the united states entry into world war i. america’s position in 1914 at the start of the war...
TRANSCRIPT
The United States Entry Into World War I
America’s Position in 1914 at the Start of the War
Regarding war, we are absolutely,
positively, undeniably neutral!
Should We Stay Neutral? Arguments for Neutrality
•1/3 of the US population were either 1st or 2nd generation immigrants from European countries.
•American tradition had been to stay out of foreign wars.
War quickly results in
Stalemate!
Should We Side With the Allies?
•England and France have similar governments to the US
And They Owe Us Big Money!
•US trade and loan totals:US trade and loan totals:
Allied powers = Allied powers = $2.3 billion$2.3 billion (plus)(plus)
• Central powers = Central powers = $275 $275 millionmillion
Blockade Yields Results!
•75% of all pre-war trade done with Allied Powers
Due to the Allied blockade.
Your Turn!
• Document Analysis Activity (optional)
The United States Entry Into World War I,
cont.
German Response (to blockade)
• Germany resorted to submarines (unterseeboots or u-boats)to get around the blockades and to sink ships from any country supplying their enemy by shooting torpedoes.
Lusitania• May 7, 1915 –German u-boats sink a
British passenger liner named the Lusitania– loaded with
over 4,000 cases of small arms destined for England
– Unfortunately, 128 Americans had been on board and went down with the ship
1915 - Lusitania
•public opinion was that the Germans were murderers and barbarians
•President Wilson and the American public hadn’t been told that the Lusitania had been used by the British to ship weapons
•Sussex Pledge – skip in your notes. We will not be getting into it.
Uh Oh . . . Something Else!
•Release of the Zimmerman Zimmerman NoteNote . . .
•Sent to Mexico from Germany
• In In exchange exchange for for invading invading the United the United States,States, Germany Germany promises promises Mexico Mexico helphelp in in regaining regaining Texas, Texas, Arizona Arizona and New and New Mexico!Mexico!
American Reaction – American Reaction – Outrage!Outrage!
• …but German actions cause outrage to Americans!
•Germany hoped to keep the U.S. out of war…
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare Resumes
Increased Tensions Result!
•Between March 16 and March 18, three American ships bound for the Allies were sunk by German U-Boats.
In the Meantime . . . Russian Revolution Occurs
• Russia had suffered more than 4 million casualties
• Russian citizens are starving and the government and military are in chaos
• Czar Nicholas II abdicates in 1917
Now all the allies have
similar governments!
For Now…For Now…
Vladimir Lenin
On April 6, 1917, President Wilson
signed a war resolution to join the
Allies.
PROPAGANDA
Information that is spread for the purpose of promoting some
cause
American Use of Propaganda
• George Creel, former newspaperman, heads up the Committee on Public Information
• Appointed by Woodrow Wilson after US entry into war
• Used artists, writers, and speakers to “sell” the war to Americans
Propaganda Used to Engage Citizens
• Posters would use images and phrasing that would be familiar to the American public
• Posters would also be specific for groups of people when necessary
And also for Selective Service
Administration
THE DRAFT&
AMERICANS WHO FOUGHT
The Draft
•The Selective Service Act of May 1917 was established to draft young men for the military service
•Early on men age 21-31 were drafted – by late 1918 it extended to include men age 18-45
The Draft
•By November 1918 more By November 1918 more than 24 million had than 24 million had registered for the draftregistered for the draft
•From those a lottery From those a lottery selected selected 3 million to serve in the war3 million to serve in the war
Louis P. Starkweather was eventually Honorably
Discharged from the Army for Medical Reasons.
Courtney Nash Starkweather
• Company I, 3rd Chemical Battalion, U.S. Army
• Class of 1920 Columbia University School of Physicians and SurgeonsDies from the effects of
gasOctober 4, 1918
Treatment of Germans in the US
• Widespread Widespread DiscriminationDiscrimination– Fired from jobsFired from jobs– Changed their Changed their namesnames
Schools stopped Schools stopped teaching German teaching German languagelanguage
– Physical and Physical and Verbal Attacks Verbal Attacks
Women in the War
•Filled a variety of roles in the war effort.
Navy Nurses aboard USS George Washington in 1918
Telephone Operators
Factory Factory WorkWork
Suffrage
• Wilson calls Wilson calls for Congress for Congress to approve to approve
the 19the 19thth Amendment!Amendment!
We have made partners of the women
in this war. Shall we admit them only to a
partnership of suffering and sacrifice
and toil and not to a partnership of right?
September 1918
African Americans in the War
•Could only serve in the Army Could only serve in the Army or Navyor Navy
•In the Navy, they could only In the Navy, they could only serve in the kitchen serve in the kitchen
•In the Army they were In the Army they were laborers, delivery laborers, delivery
personnel, and messengerspersonnel, and messengers
African Americans in the War
•Several regiments were Several regiments were loaned out to the French and loaned out to the French and saw combat!saw combat!
•The 369th Regiment or The 369th Regiment or “Harlem Hell Fighters”“Harlem Hell Fighters”
•Spent 191 days in combatSpent 191 days in combat
……more than any other American more than any other American unit!unit!
• Nearly 200 Nearly 200 members members
were were awarded awarded
medals for medals for bravery…bravery…
……by the by the French!French!
African Americans Post-WarAfrican Americans Post-War
• Enjoyed freedoms Enjoyed freedoms in France they could in France they could not enjoy in U.S.not enjoy in U.S.
• The efforts of these The efforts of these troops lead to a troops lead to a greater awareness greater awareness of inequalities in of inequalities in AmericaAmerica
• Civil Rights Civil Rights movements grow…movements grow…
THE END IS NEAR . . .
Ending the War
•Wilson has an idea called the Fourteen Points
•Includes creation of a League of Nations (pre-United Nations)
•Goes to Europe to meet with other Allied leaders.
