America and the Great War:

1
America and the Great War

• From Neutrality to Conflict

2
The war begins in Europe July 28, 1914-August 4,
1914

• Summarize President Wilsons message to the
  American people in this speech, given August 19
  (see the website)

3
Why was it difficult for Americans to listen to
Wilson?

• The U.S. had economic, historical, and cultural
  ties to Great Britain

4
Miscalculations and mistakes

• Germany fears encirclement by France and Russia,
  and decides to strike first.
• Schlieffen Plan 42 day plan

5
The hit pop song of 1915

• http//historymatters.gmu.edu/d/4942/

6
Was Wilsons idealism realistic?

• His goals democracy, civil rights, capitalism,
  and freedom of the seas/free trade for all

7
Trouble on the high seas

• 1914 and 1915 Great Britain and Germany
  blockaded each others ports and mined the North
  Sea American merchant ships were stopped or
  seized
• February, 1915

8
The attack on the Lusitania

• May 7, 1915

9
The aftermath of the attack

• Wilson sends the Lusitania Notes demanding that
  Germany stop submarine warfare or face strict
  accountability

10
Aftermath (cont.)

• Arabic (Aug 1915) and Sussex (Mar 1916) Pledges
  following attacks on British and French ships
  with Americans onboard, Germany agrees not to
  attack merchant ships without warning

11
U.S. companies and banks make it complicated

• US was in a recession in 1914 by 1915 business
  was booming!
• Were we really neutral?

12
Election of 1916

• Woodrow Wilson (Democrat) reelected
• We didnt go to war!
• Charles Evans Hughes-Republican

13
The final steps to US involvement

• Jan 31, 1917
• Feb 24, 1917 Great Britain informs Wilson of the
  Zimmermann Telegram

14
Zimmermann Telegram
15
Declaration of War on Germany

• April 2, 1917 Wilsons war message
• The world must be made safe for democracy
• A war to end all wars.
• http//historymatters.gmu.edu/d/4943/
• 82-6 in the Senate, 373-50 in the House in favor