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The United States Entry into World War I

The United States Entry into World War I. At the start of the war. US President Woodrow Wilson declared a US policy of absolute neutrality. Why did President Wilson’s decision to stay out of World War I in 1914 please many Americans?. Why Neutrality? Think past units of study!.

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The United States Entry into World War I

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  1. The United States Entry into World War I

  2. At the start of the war ... • US President Woodrow Wilsondeclared a USpolicy of absoluteneutrality.

  3. Why did President Wilson’s decision to stay out of World War I in 1914 please many Americans?

  4. Why Neutrality? Think past units of study! • 1/3 of the US population were either first or second generation immigrants from England, France, Germany, etc. • American tradition (up to that point) of staying out of foreign wars – “it’s over there….”

  5. Stalemate! • 2. What was the status of combat in Europe by the end of 1914?

  6. …maybe we should go to war… • England and France have similar governments to the US • Germany and AH are ruled by a monarchy

  7. …and we had Pre-War Economic Ties… • 75% of all pre-war trade done with Allied Powers • With the Allied blockade, trade was easier to coastal Allied countries, especially France and Great Britain.

  8. …plus they owe us lots of money… • The allied blockade meant easier trade with allied coastal countries • US trade and loan totals:Allied powers = $2.3 billion (plus) • Central powers = $275 million

  9. Submarine Warfare • British blockades of Germany strangled the country of necessary provisions and war-related items • Germany resorted to submarines to get around the blockades and to sink ships from any country supplying their enemy

  10. Submarine Warfare • 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

  11. 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

  12. Sussex Pledge – Germany agreed to announce themselves to ships of questionable nature before firing upon them

  13. Germany schemes to break the stalemate by restarting unrestricted submarine warfare

  14. And what else draws us into war?

  15. Uh Oh . . . Something Else! • Release of the Zimmerman Note . . .

  16. In exchange for invading the United States,Germany promises Mexico help in regaining Texas, Arizona and New Mexico!

  17. Outrage! • Germany hoped to keep the U.S. out of war… • …but German scheming outrages Americans!

  18. Another obstacle removed… • Russia had suffered more than 4 million casualties • Russian citizens are starving and the government and military are in chaos • In 1917 Czar Nicholas II abdicates! Now all the allies have similar governments! For Now…

  19. The Final Decision • Between March 16 and March 18, three American ships bound for the Allies were sunk by German U-Boats.

  20. On April 6, 1917, President Wilson signed a war resolution to join the Allies.

  21. PROPAGANDA

  22. In other words . . . • Huns – a Central Asian tribe legendary for its ferocity. • Why would this name be applied to the Germans?

  23. Germans as “Huns” • A derogatory term for Germans. • Basis: Though Attila's forces (Attila the Hun) would have contained many Goths and other Germanic peoples in addition to his Mongolian tribes people, this use of the term seems to derive from a simple desire to characterize the Germans as expansionist barbarians.

  24. 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

  25. Propaganda 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

  26. THE DRAFT&AMERICANS WHO FOUGHT

  27. 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

  28. The Draft • By November 1918 more than 24 million had registered for the draft • From those a lottery selected 3 million to serve in the war

  29. Germans in the US • Many were discriminated against due to their German ancestry • Fired from jobs • Changed their names • Ostracized in communities • Schools stopped teaching German language • Attacked in communities

  30. Women in the War • Filled a variety of roles in the war effort including caregivers (nurses) and home defense • A small number worked in the signal corps (communications)

  31. Telephone Operators

  32. Navy Nurses aboard USS George Washington in 1918

  33. African Americans in the War • Many had no choice where to serve – only the Navy and Army accepted recruits • Served as laborers, delivery personnel, messengers, and in the kitchen (within the navy)

  34. African Americans in the War • Several regiments were loaned out to the French and saw combat • The 369th Regiment or “Harlem Hell Fighters” was cited most for their bravery and as the first to reach the Rhine River in Germany

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