THE UNITED STATES AND THE UNITED STATES AND WWIWWI• Americans at first thought the war Americans at first thought the war

did not involve themdid not involve them• President Woodrow Wilson was most President Woodrow Wilson was most

intent on asserting the international intent on asserting the international rights of neutrals, including the right rights of neutrals, including the right to free access to tradeto free access to trade

• He thought he could do this even He thought he could do this even though he favored the Alliesthough he favored the Allies

THE UNITED STATES AND THE UNITED STATES AND WWIWWI• Nature of modern warfare and of the global Nature of modern warfare and of the global

economy undermined his policieseconomy undermined his policies• US had to have a market for its goods, US had to have a market for its goods,

including armsincluding arms• Sinking of the Lusitania by a German Sinking of the Lusitania by a German

submarinesubmarine• Zimmerman Telegram, January, 1917—offered Zimmerman Telegram, January, 1917—offered

Mexico the right to reconquer lost territories in Mexico the right to reconquer lost territories in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas if the US Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas if the US entered the war and Mexico fought against itentered the war and Mexico fought against it

THE UNITED STATES AND THE UNITED STATES AND WWIWWI

THE UNITED STATES AND THE UNITED STATES AND WWIWWI• Wilson thought he could remake the world Wilson thought he could remake the world

according to his principles, teach Europe according to his principles, teach Europe to live by Progressive principles as to live by Progressive principles as embodied in the Fourteen Pointsembodied in the Fourteen Points

• Centrality of the League of Nations to his Centrality of the League of Nations to his plan—international resolution of disputes plan—international resolution of disputes and enforcement of its principles (national and enforcement of its principles (national authority subordinated to international authority subordinated to international authority)authority)

THE UNITED STATES AND THE UNITED STATES AND WWIWWI• Fight over the Treaty of Versailles and the Fight over the Treaty of Versailles and the

League of NationsLeague of Nations• Congress not willing to cede national or Congress not willing to cede national or

Congressional authority over the right to Congressional authority over the right to declare wardeclare war

• Leadership of Senator Henry Cabot LodgeLeadership of Senator Henry Cabot Lodge• Opposition from the left: the treaty was Opposition from the left: the treaty was

too punitive against Germany, planted the too punitive against Germany, planted the seeds of future wars (Women’s seeds of future wars (Women’s International League for Peace and International League for Peace and Freedom)Freedom)

THE UNITED STATES AND THE UNITED STATES AND WORLD WAR I--WEBSITESWORLD WAR I--WEBSITES

• http://www.history.arizona.edu/tah/whttp://www.history.arizona.edu/tah/wwi_resources1914-1918.htmwi_resources1914-1918.htm

• http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/modhttp://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/modules/ww1/index.cfmules/ww1/index.cfm (lesson plans) (lesson plans)

• http://www.gilderlehrman.org/teachehttp://www.gilderlehrman.org/teachers/module16/index.htmlrs/module16/index.html (lesson plans) (lesson plans)

• http://www.authentichistory.com/wwhttp://www.authentichistory.com/ww1.html1.html (primary sources from popular (primary sources from popular culture)culture)