Would America get Involved?

-Early in the war most Americans not want in

-not everyone agreed on who should win though

Critics of war:1.Socialists: Capitalist and Imperialists were using little countries for their benefits

2. Pacifists: War was evil Some just didn’t see it as our fightI did not raise my boy to be a soldier

Old Country Ties to old country -some supported their home country some Germans want Germany some Irish

want Germany, because Brit. Had been bad to Irish

-Many US supported Brits because they were like cousins

-Germany’s aggressiveness caused some here to hate them

Money & Friends Money makes Friends

-More then anything we were tied economically to the Allies

-When war started, Allies gave us business we needed

-We were making money off of war,

labor shortage

As much as the people of the US wanted to stay out of war, we could not stay out, it was just a question of when

Brits start a Blockade:-Britain wanted to starve

Germany out Germany has little water access, so Britain

tried to stop all supplies coming to it

US at first happy to do business with anyone at first, but now forced to only do business with Brits

Result: Germans starve: 750,000 starve to death

Germany had to respond, helps US get into war

U Boats Germany uses submarines to sink British ships

-Does not follow rules of war 1915: Lusitania sunk: 1198 dead, 128

Americans -Germans said liner had war supplies on it -US starts to lean towards war Three months later: Arabic sunk: 2 Americans 1916: Sussex sunk, more Americans killed -Sussex Pledge: Germany claims to not sink

anymore ships if Britain will open shipping routes: US only hears Germany will not sink more ships.

Germany uses submarines to sink British ships

-Does not follow rules of war 1915: Lusitania sunk: 1198 dead, 128

Americans -Germans said liner had war

supplies on it -US starts to lean towards war Three months later: Arabic sunk: 2

Americans 1916: Sussex sunk, more Americans

killed -Sussex Pledge: Germany claims to not sink

anymore ships if Britain will open shipping routes: US only hears Germany will not sink more ships.

WAR April 2nd: War declared, Congress voted to

support-Wilson called it a war to make the World Safe for Democracy-Also was going to be called the War to end All Wars

What would happen now?

US Prepares For Fighting US military in horrible shape pre-war

Less then 200,000 men Need to increase army Selective Service Act 1917

◦ All men 18-45◦ 24 million registered

Propaganda worked

Army rose to 3 million

Most no high school education or had ever left town

African Americans allowed in Army, but not Navy or Marines

Segregated unitsMany stuck in non combat units

Wilson had a plan for Peace called The 14 Points

1.No secret treaties2. Freedom of Seas3. Lower tariffs to increase trade4. Reduce militaries5.No more colonizing6-13->New boundaries for countries14. League of Nations

All countries could peacefully settle disagreementsLike a modern UNMany countries not happy because did not punish Germany

Treaty of Versailles

Peace talks held in FranceNo Central Powers presentWho was there? Big 4 Clemenceau: FranceGeorge: BritainOrlando: ItalyWilson: US

The Meat of the Treaty 9 new countries created Central Powers and Russia all lost land Will cause future issues Germany

◦ Blamed for war◦ Lost all colonies◦ Not allowed to have army◦ Lost all industry◦ Had to pay 33 billion in reparations

Some people thought it punished too muchSome did not like LNFor example, Henry Cabot Lodge (R)

Believed it could be looked at as another allianceTook away US power? Because we would have to ask other countries permission?

Consequence of War

US recognized as a super powerMore integration

Europe and Russia left in a state of destruction

Needed to rebuildMost countries went to a dictator to help through hard timesGermany did not forget how they were treated