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America: From Neutrality to War

Explore America's journey from neutrality to active involvement in WWI. Learn about Wilson's efforts to keep peace, the U-Boat threat, wartime mobilization, battles, and the aftermath of the Treaty of Versailles.

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America: From Neutrality to War

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  1. 24 The Nation at War

  2. Toward War • 1914: War in Europe • Assassination of Franz Ferdinand of Austria • Nationalism – Imperialism – Militarism • Balance of Power/Secret Agreements • Central Powers headed by Germany, Austria • Allied Powers headed by England, France Russia

  3. TOWARD WAR • Austria issues ultimatum to Serbia • Germany backs up ultimatum with a “blank check” • Russia backs Serbia and Europe stumbles into WW I

  4. The Neutrality Policy • Wilson declares neutrality • Progressives saw war as wasteful, irrational and an obstacle to reforms • Suspicion that business sought war for profit • Immigrants preferred U.S. neutrality • Americans saw little national stake in war

  5. Freedom of the Seas • Neutrality proves difficult • England’s blockade of Germany restricts U.S. trade with Germany • Wilson accepted English promise of reimbursement at war’s end • Wilson protests trading blockades – trades mostly with Allies • U.S. position changed toward Germany because German U-boats interrupt trade with Allies

  6. The U-Boat Threat • German submarines violated international law by shooting without warning • Wilson refused to ban trade or to ban Americans from foreign ships • 1915: Lusitania sunk by U-Boat • Wilson demanded Germans pay for loss of 128 Americans

  7. The U-Boat Threat • April, 1916: Wilson issued ultimatum: call off attacks on cargo and passenger ships or U.S.–German relations would be severed • May, 1916: Sussex Pledge—Germany pledges to honor U.S. neutrality and only shoot ships of the enemy’s navy • Sussex Pledge postponed U.S. involvement in war

  8. “He Kept Us Out of War” • 1916: Wilson campaigned on record of neutrality • Republican campaigned on tougher line against Germany • Wilson won close election – people want to remain neutral

  9. The Final Months of Peace • February, 1917: Germany renewed U-Boat attacks • Zimmerman Telegram and Germany sinks five American ships • Wilson’s response: declare war on Germany • War to end all wars and make the world safe for democracy • Wilson’s speech – Peace among equals

  10. Over There • U.S. allies were in danger of losing war • Germans sunk 881,000 tons of Allied shipping during April, 1917 • Mutinies in French army • British drive in Flanders stalled • Bolsheviks signed separate peace with Germany and left war • Italian army routed • Allies braced for spring, 1918 offensive

  11. Mobilization • U.S. not prepared for war • Preparedness issue split country • 200,000 troops at war’s beginning • Selective Service Act created draft • John J. (Blackjack) Pershing - head American Expeditionary Force (AEF) • American Expeditionary Force small and poorly equipped

  12. European Alliances and Battlefronts, 1914–1917

  13. War in the Trenches • WW I – Trench Warfare represents vast devastation • Battle of Verdun – over 600,000 casualties • Somme – over 1 million casualties • 1917: U.S. troops arrive in France • 1918: U.S. forces help halt final German offensive • Germans stopped outside Paris

  14. The Western Front: U.S. Participation, 1918

  15. Over Here • Victory on front depends on mobilization at home • Wilson consolidates federal authority to organize war production and distribution • War Industries Board in charge of production • Food Administration run by Hoover

  16. The Conquest of Convictions • Wartime laws to repress dissent • Espionage Act: Outlawed acts to aid the enemy, including encouraging disloyalty • Trading with the Enemy Act: Government can censor foreign language press • Sedition Act: Criticism of the war made a crime – violate freedom of speech • 1500 dissenters imprisoned, including Eugene Debs – he denounced the war

  17. The Conquest of Convictions • 1917- Russian Bolshevik Revolution results in Russia signing treaty with Germany and leaving the war • Germany could then concentrate on fighting in the West • 1918–1919: Revolution resulted in “Red Scare” in U.S. • Russia blocked from peace conference

  18. A Bureaucratic War • Wilson organizes a wartime economy • War Industries Board and other agencies supervise production, distribution to maximize war effort • Government seizes some businesses to keep them running • Cooperation between government and business the norm • Business profits from wartime industry

  19. Labor in the War • Union membership swells • Labor shortage prompts: • Wage increase • Entry of Mexican Americans, women, African Americans to war-related industrial work force

  20. Labor in the War • 200,000 blacks served in France • 42,000 combat troops • Great Migration to northern factories • Blacks must adjust industrial work pace • Encounter Northern racism

  21. The Treaty of Versailles • 1918 U.S. help crush German Army • American contribution, although small in comparison to European countries, was vital • Wilson goes to Paris treaty with his Fourteen points calling for non-punitive settlement

  22. The Treaty of Versailles • England and France balk at Fourteen Points • Want Germany disarmed and crippled • Want Germany’s colonies • Skeptical of principle of self-determination

  23. A Peace at Paris • Wilson failed to deflect Allied punishment of Germany in treaty • Wilson wants self-determination and League of Nations • Treaty created Wilson’s League of Nations • Article X of League charter required members to protect each others’ independence and territorial integrity – Collective Security

  24. Europe After the Treaty Versailles, 1919

  25. Rejection in the Senate • Opponents in Congress oppose treaty on any grounds – some in Congress want compromise • Some see League of Nations infringing on American autonomy • Wilson unwilling to compromise with opponents • 1919: Stroke disables Wilson • 1920 – Final defeat of Treaty in Senate

  26. Rejection in the Senate • Wilson hopes Democratic victory in 1920 election will provide mandate for League of Nations • Landslide for Republican Warren Harding • Defeat of League of Nations brought defeat of Progressive spirit

  27. Postwar Disillusionment • To the next generation, the war seemed futile, wasteful • The progressive spirit survived but without enthusiasm or broad-based support • Americans welcomed Warren G Harding

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