American Neutrality

1. Allies – Support: • Long ties of language, history, __________through Britain • U.S. & France had been allies in the ___________________________ • Central- Support: • - _______________ Americans with German or Austrian descent • - Millions of ______Americans sympathized- they hate Britain who had ruled them for centuries • - Jews favored Germany against Russia - some had fled persecution in Russia not long ago • Economic Effects: Economy boomed as _______________/ manufacturers rushed to fill orders for war goods American Neutrality • Trade Effects: • - By 1917 trade with Allies greatly ___________ • - Trade with ________Powers increased too (smaller amount) • *Trade imbalance?? • Propaganda • - Both sides waged a propaganda war in the U.S. • - _____________: spreading of ideas that help a cause or hurt an opposing cause • - Each side pictured the other as _____________________who killed innocent civilians War is Coming! • As a _________________nation, U.S. claimed the right to trade with either side in the conflict • - Early in the war, ___________blockaded German ports, hoping to starve Germany into surrender • - In response, _________________set up a blockade around Britain • - To enforce the blockade, Germany used a fleet of U-boats • - U-Boat: a German boat that attacked any ship that entered or left British ports • - This meant _______________ships would also be attacked

2. U-Boat Attacks Raise Protest: • - Under international law, a country at war could stop & search a neutral ship suspected of carrying ______________ • - BUT U-boats simply torpedoed _____________& _____________ships • - Germany warned the U.S. & other neutral nations to keep their ships out of blockade zones • - Wilson _____________to hold Germany responsible if its U-boats caused any loss of U.S. life/ property • Murder on the High Seas • - Germany ignored Wilson’s warning • - May 7, _________: German submarine • torpedoed the Lusitania off the • coast of Ireland • Lusitania: British passenger ship carrying British & U.S. civilians • - 1,200 people died (_______Americans) • Wilson threatened to break any ties if Germany didn’t stop sinking passenger ships • Germany agreed (didn’t want to pull U.S. into Allied Powers) • _______________: before attacking any ship, Germany promised U-boats would give warning • This kept us out of war for the time being • From Neutrality to War: • Wilson began to prepare stronger army/ navy • 1916 – Wilson runs for reelection against Charles Hughes (R) • Hughes favored neutrality, but democrats used propaganda to portray him as a warmonger • _______________________: person who tries to stir up war • By doing this, Wilson’s image was boosted as he “kept us out of war” & he won • Moving Towards War: • Germany had decided to renew sub-warfare in a desperate attempt to break Allied _____________ • Germany knew renewed U-boat attacks would bring the _______ into war • They gambled they would defeat the Allies before U.S. got involved • Wilson broke off _________ relations with Germany • Zimmerman Telegram: • - Urged __________into attacking the U.S. if U.S. declared war on Germany. • - In return, ___________would help Mexico win back its “lost provinces” in the American SW • *_______, Arizona, N. Mexico *This caused anti-German feelings to SOAR • Revolution in Russia: • - German subs sank several American _____________ships • - ________________in Russia drove Czar Nicholas II from power • - Czars: ____________________________________________________ • - Revolutionaries rebelled against czar, as their economy dwindled & there were _______shortages • Wilson welcomed the Russian Revolution • - Firm believer in _________________ • - Against his principles to be an ____________ of an absolute ruler • “The World Must be Made Safe for Democracy” • April 6, 1917: Wilson declares war