US Involvement in The Great War (WW1) &

Impact on South Carolina

8.6-1—Explain the reasons for United States involvement in

World War I and the war’s impact on South Carolina and

the nation as a whole, including the building of new

military bases and the economic impact of emigration to industrial jobs in the North.

Part 1: US Involvement in WW1• US declared

neutrality• Continued trading

with Great Britain • Blockades of German

ports by the British Navy limited trade with Germany

• Americans loaned allies money to continue trade relationships with allies

WW1 U.S. Public Opinion

• American connection w/ the British

• German use of submarines

• 1915, German U-boat sinking of the British passenger ship, The Lusitania

President Wilson’s Response• Was incensed by the

loss of innocent lives taken by subs

• Protested strongly to the Germans– Did not result in US

joining the war– Germany pledged to

restrict their use of sub warfare

1916 re-election campaign slogan: “He kept us out of war”

Why War Now?• Russian revolution changed

monarchy• Spring-1917, Germany broke

the U-Boat Pledge• Wilson wanted a “just

peace” against Germany & ask Congress to declare war on the Germans April 6, 1917

Wilson’s 14 Point PlanWilson's Fourteen Points became the basis for a peace programme & it was on the back of the Fourteen Points that Germany and her allies agreed to an armistice in November 1918.1. No more secret agreements ("Open covenants openly arrived at").2. Free navigation of all seas.3. An end to all economic barriers between countries.4. Countries to reduce weapon numbers.5. All decisions regarding the colonies should be impartial6. The German Army is to be removed from Russia. Russia should be left to develop her own political set-up.7. Belgium should be independent like before the war.8. France should be fully liberated and allowed to recover Alsace-Lorraine9. All Italians are to be allowed to live in Italy. Italy's borders are to "along clearly recognizable lines of nationality."10. Self-determination should be allowed for all those living in Austria-Hungary.11. Self-determination and guarantees of independence should be allowed for the Balkan states.12. The Turkish people should be governed by the Turkish government. Non-Turks in the old Turkish Empire should govern themselves.13. An independent Poland should be created which should have access to the sea.14. A League of Nations should be set up to guarantee the political and territorial independence of all states.

Closing out the war• Wilson’s intentions were to “make the world

safe for democracy”• The American Expeditionary Force pushed

the last Germans out of the western front in France

• The armistice of November 11, 1918 ended the fighting between the Allies & Central powers

Part 2: WW1 Impact on S.C.