The World at war

1. The World at war Chapter 18.2 The United States in World War I

2. Focus Your Thoughts . . . The Great War has reached a stalemate, yet the United States maintains neutrality . . . • Why do you think this might be? • What, in your mind, likely led to U.S. involvement?

3. Leaning Toward the Allies • Privately, President Wilson was sympathetic to the Allied Powers • He was very concerned with Germany’s war tactics and the invasion and subsequent destruction of neutral Belgium • In addition, our financial ties to Great Britain and France were much stronger than our ties to Germany • Financially, the U.S. was far from neutral . . . By 1917, Britain was purchasing nearly $75 million worth of war goods from American businesses each week Review: Which three countries made up the Allied Powers (The Triple Entente)?

4. Submarine Warfare • Great Britain’s navy was blockading German ports and transportation routes making it difficult for other countries to trade with them • Germany had to come up with some way to retaliate against the British . . . Enter the U-Boats!

5. Submarine Warfare • Germany declared the waters around Great Britain to be a war zone and warned other countries not to sail into the area lest their ships be destroyed • Wilson considered this a violation of U.S. neutrality and warned Germany that if any American lives were lost, Germany would be held responsible . . .

7. Sailing into War • May 1, 1915, a British luxury ship, the Lusitania (sister ship of the Titanic), destined for Britain was torpedoed by German submarines • The Lusitania sank just eighteen minutes after it was struck killing 1,200 people • 128 Americans among the dead Illustration of the sinking of the Lusitania

8. Heading Toward War • Americans were outraged by the sinking of the Lusitania • Facing international criticism, Germany agreed to attack only supply ships, however . . . • Less than a year later, German u-boats attacked a French passenger ship, the Sussex, killing eighty people; Wilson threatens to end diplomatic relations with Germany • Germany, fearing U.S. involvement in the war, issues the Sussex Pledge • A promise not to sink merchant vessels “without warning and without saving human lives”

9. Wilson Works Towards Peace • In January of 1917, Wilson asks the Allied and Central Powers to accept “peace without victory” • This request angers the Allied Powers, who blame the Central Powers for starting the war and demand they be held responsible for wartime damage and destruction • Germany resumes unrestricted submarine warfare and the U.S. ends diplomatic relations with Germany

10. The Zimmerman Note • German foreign secretary Arthur Zimmermann sent a telegram to a German official in Mexico • Proposed an alliance between Mexico and Germany • In exchange, Mexico is to reconquer the lost territories of New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona • The Germans hoped that an American war with Mexico would keep the U.S. out of the war in Europe • Mexico declined this offer, and the British intercepted the note, decoded it, and sent it to American officials

11. A Russian Uprising • Czar Nicholas II is overthrown in Russia, and a democratic government is put into place . . . • The United States is pleased with this because we’re very interested in spreading democracy • Support for the war increases now that we’re sympathetic to all three countries of the Entente Czar Nicholas II

12. The United States Declares War • German boats sink three American merchant ships • The United States joins the Allied Powers “We shall fight for the things which we have always carried nearest our hearts, for democracy . . . and to bring peace and safety to all nations and make the world itself at last free.” - Woodrow Wilson

13. Allied Setbacks • In November, Vladimir Lenin, a communist, took control of the Russian government • He waged a peace agreement with the Central powers, freeing the German’s to focus on Americans Vladimir Lenin

14. U.S. Troops in Action • Twelve months after arriving in France, American troops finally saw combat • The American troops were a major factor in the war, U.S. troops helped the French retain control of Paris, the capital city and halting the German advance • On July 15, 1918, the German’s launched their last desperate offensive

15. The Second Battle of the Marne • The U.S. 3rd Division blew up every bridge the Germans had built across the Marne • The German army retreated on August 3, having suffered 150,000 casualties • In September, the Allies began a counterattack; for the first time, Americans fought as a separate army and defeated the German troops at Mihiel • Allied forces continued their advance for more than a month

16. The Armistice: November 11, 1918 • Germany’s economy was crumbling • Food riots and strikes broke out and a revolution swept Austria-Hungary • Many soldiers abandoned the German cause; lacking the will to continue fighting, the Central Powers began to surrender • In early November, Austria-Hungary signs a peace agreement with the Allies; Germany quickly followed suit • Conditions of the Armistice: • Germany must leave all the territories it had occupied • Germany must surrender its aircraft, heavy artillery, tanks and u-boats and allow Allied troops to occupy German territory

17. The War to End All Wars? • The world had grown weary of war and death • The magnitude of the tragedy muted any celebration • By the end of the war, some 8.5 million people had died . . . Many hoped the ‘Great War’ would be the war to end all wars, unfortunately, this will not be the case.

18. In-Class Writing Assignment • Read the quote below: “I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it.” -Anonymous • What was it’s author implying about humanity in terms of our innate inclinations to wage war amongst ourselves? • Will we ever live in a world free of war? Why or why not. • Had you been alive during this time period, would you have supported U.S. involvement in World War I or continued neutrality? If you chose neutrality, how might this have impacted the outcome of World War I?