Alliances in EuropeAlliances in Europe

World War I- US NeutralityWorld War I- US Neutrality

August 14, 1914-August 14, 1914-President Wilson proclaims President Wilson proclaims

US neutralityUS neutralityAdvantage- ability to trade Advantage- ability to trade

with both sideswith both sides

World War I- British LeaningsWorld War I- British Leanings

Same language and similar cultureSame language and similar culture

Millions of Anglo-AmericansMillions of Anglo-Americans

Rape of Belgium (German Offensive)Rape of Belgium (German Offensive)Angered American citizens and made them Angered American citizens and made them

sympathetic to the Allied causesympathetic to the Allied cause

World War I- German LeaningsWorld War I- German Leanings

Millions of German-AmericansMillions of German-Americans

Millions of Irish-Americans Millions of Irish-Americans (anti-British)(anti-British)

British Naval Blockade of British Naval Blockade of GermanyGermany

Traditional definition of contrabandTraditional definition of contrabandExplosives, guns, and ammunitionExplosives, guns, and ammunition

Brits began to confiscate Brits began to confiscate allall goods goods coming and going into Germanycoming and going into Germany

Starvation BlockadeStarvation BlockadeTotal Warfare tactic to bring German Total Warfare tactic to bring German

citizens to their kneescitizens to their kneesEmployed close to German ports instead Employed close to German ports instead

of a few miles out to sea (traditional style)of a few miles out to sea (traditional style)

Unrestricted Sub WarfareUnrestricted Sub Warfare

Germans declared the waters around Germans declared the waters around the British Isles a war zonethe British Isles a war zone

Warned that any ship entering the war Warned that any ship entering the war zone would be fired uponzone would be fired upon

May 7, 1915- the sinking of the May 7, 1915- the sinking of the LusitaniaLusitaniaBritish ship off the coast of IrelandBritish ship off the coast of Ireland128 Americans on board (all of whom died)128 Americans on board (all of whom died)

The Arabic PledgeThe Arabic Pledge

British non-military ship British non-military ship ArabicArabic sunk with two more American sunk with two more American casualtiescasualties

German ambassador to US German ambassador to US made the Arabic pledge to not made the Arabic pledge to not sink unarmed shipssink unarmed ships

The Sussex PledgeThe Sussex Pledge

French non-military ship French non-military ship SussexSussex sunk sunk in the English Channel in the English Channel

Germans issue the Sussex pledge and Germans issue the Sussex pledge and stated that they would abide by stated that they would abide by international law (with their sub policy)international law (with their sub policy)

Asked the US to get Britain to stop their Asked the US to get Britain to stop their “total warfare” blockade“total warfare” blockade

US Trade with the AlliesUS Trade with the Allies

US had become the storehouse for England US had become the storehouse for England and the other Allied nationsand the other Allied nationsMunitions, food, and raw materialsMunitions, food, and raw materials

Eventually, the US banks loaned the Allies $2 Eventually, the US banks loaned the Allies $2 billion billion

1914 to 1916- trade with Britain increased 1914 to 1916- trade with Britain increased from $800 million to $3 billionfrom $800 million to $3 billion

1914 to 1916- trade with Germany decreased 1914 to 1916- trade with Germany decreased from $170 million to $1 millionfrom $170 million to $1 million

US PreparednessUS Preparedness

Wilson opposed preparing for war early onWilson opposed preparing for war early on Republicans (led by TR) demanded the Republicans (led by TR) demanded the

nation be preparednation be prepared Wilson responded by preparing for war (had the Wilson responded by preparing for war (had the

1916 presidential election to think about)1916 presidential election to think about)

November 1915- Wilson calls for a larger November 1915- Wilson calls for a larger military and navymilitary and navy Appeased the Progressives (who called for Appeased the Progressives (who called for

continued neutrality) by passing more continued neutrality) by passing more progressive legislation domesticallyprogressive legislation domestically

Campaign and Election of Campaign and Election of 19161916

Democrat- Woodrow Wilson Democrat- Woodrow Wilson Slogan- “He kept us out of war”Slogan- “He kept us out of war”

Republican- CRepublican- Charles Evans Hughesharles Evans HughesWilson barely won the election by 23 Wilson barely won the election by 23

electoral voteselectoral votesCongress swayed back to the Republicans Congress swayed back to the Republicans

which would cause problems for Wilson which would cause problems for Wilson later later

Zimmermann NoteZimmermann Note

Letter from German foreign minister to Letter from German foreign minister to German ambassador in MexicoGerman ambassador in Mexico

Purpose- get Mexico to invade the USPurpose- get Mexico to invade the USReward- land lost to the US during the Reward- land lost to the US during the

Mexican War Mexican War Letter was intercepted by British and Letter was intercepted by British and

used by Wilson to get a bill passed in used by Wilson to get a bill passed in Congress to arm US merchant shipsCongress to arm US merchant ships

US Declaration of WarUS Declaration of War March 4, 1917-March 4, 1917-

Wilson’s inauguration speech attempted to Wilson’s inauguration speech attempted to achieve peace for the nations at warachieve peace for the nations at war

Claimed preservation of an “armed neutrality”Claimed preservation of an “armed neutrality” March 15, 1917- March 15, 1917-

Fall of Czar Nicolas II of RussiaFall of Czar Nicolas II of Russia March 18, 1917-March 18, 1917-

Three US merchant ships are sunk by German Three US merchant ships are sunk by German subssubs

April 2, 1917- April 2, 1917- Wilson asks Congress for permission to declare Wilson asks Congress for permission to declare

war on Germanywar on Germany

Wilson’s Fourteen PointsWilson’s Fourteen Points

January 1918-January 1918- Defined the causes of WW IDefined the causes of WW I Outlined the solutions to avoid another world Outlined the solutions to avoid another world

war, which includedwar, which included Open diplomacy (no more secret negotiations)Open diplomacy (no more secret negotiations) Freedom of the seas would be restoredFreedom of the seas would be restored Allowance for national self-determination of small Allowance for national self-determination of small

nations around the worldnations around the world Creation of the League of Nations to preserve Creation of the League of Nations to preserve

peace and insure justicepeace and insure justice