Question?Question?

What does it mean to be neutral “in What does it mean to be neutral “in fact, as well as name”?fact, as well as name”?

American IsolationismAmerican Isolationism

George WashingtonGeorge Washington Refused to take sides between England & Refused to take sides between England &

France, 1793France, 1793 Urged US to remain neutralUrged US to remain neutral

US interventionist in Latin America, but US interventionist in Latin America, but neutral in Europeneutral in Europe

Reaction to WarReaction to War

War breaks out in Europe in 1914War breaks out in Europe in 1914

Many in US have conflicted loyaltiesMany in US have conflicted loyalties Close cultural and economic ties to BritainClose cultural and economic ties to Britain Large population of Germans and other Large population of Germans and other

EuropeansEuropeans

Problems with Problems with NeutralityNeutrality

TradeTrade

Problems with NeutralityProblems with Neutrality

ImmigrantsImmigrants Suspicion of German immigrants in Suspicion of German immigrants in

particularparticular Some pro-war sentimentSome pro-war sentiment

Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt Secretary of State, William Jennings Secretary of State, William Jennings

Bryan keeps pressing for neutralityBryan keeps pressing for neutrality

German Submarine WarfareGerman Submarine Warfare

Warning to PassengersWarning to Passengers

Notice!Travellers intending to embark on the Atlantic voyage are reminded that a state of war exists between Germany and her allies and Great Britain and her allies; that the zone of war includes the waters adjacent to the British Isles; that, in accordance with formal notice given by the Imperial German Government, vessels flying the flag of Great Britain, or any of her allies, are liable to destruction in those waters and that travellers sailing in the war zone on ships of Great Britain or her allies do so at their own risk.

Imperial German EmbassyWashington, D. C., April 22, 1915

RMS LusitaniaRMS LusitaniaMay 7, 1915May 7, 1915

Passenger shipPassenger ship Sunk May 7, 1915Sunk May 7, 1915 Over 1,200 people Over 1,200 people

deaddead 128 Americans128 Americans

US outragedUS outraged

FalloutFallout

US protests German strategyUS protests German strategy

Threatens to end diplomatic relationsThreatens to end diplomatic relations

Secretary of State, William Jennings Bryan, Secretary of State, William Jennings Bryan, resignsresigns

Germany on noticeGermany on notice ArabicArabic Pledge Pledge

SussexSussex Pledge Pledge

In March 1916 In March 1916 Germans torpedoed Germans torpedoed the the SussexSussex, a French , a French passenger ferrypassenger ferry

25 Americans injuries25 Americans injuries

Germans agree to end Germans agree to end targeting civilian targeting civilian shippingshipping

Election of 1916Election of 1916

Woodrow Wilson (Democrat)Woodrow Wilson (Democrat)

Charles Evan Hughes (Republican)Charles Evan Hughes (Republican)

Wilson’s campaign:Wilson’s campaign: ““He kept us out of the war!”He kept us out of the war!”

1916 Election Results1916 Election Results

Zimmerman TelegramZimmerman Telegram

January 1917, Letter from Germany to January 1917, Letter from Germany to MexicoMexico

British intercept and hand to USBritish intercept and hand to US

Uproar!Uproar!

Wilson’s “Peace Without Victory” SpeechWilson’s “Peace Without Victory” Speech

War!War!

Germany increasingly desperateGermany increasingly desperate

February 1, 1917February 1, 1917 Announces resumption of Announces resumption of

unrestricted warfareunrestricted warfare

April 2, 1917April 2, 1917 Wilson asks for Declaration of WarWilson asks for Declaration of War