The United States Declares War
The United States Declares War. Angela Brown Chapter 10 Section 2. German Submarine Warfare. German U-boats – short for unterseeboot or submarine Passenger and merchant ships had no defense. Subs could go undetected nearly anywhere in the ocean. This struck many Americans as uncivilized.
The United States Declares War
E N D
Presentation Transcript
The United States Declares War Angela Brown Chapter 10 Section 2
German Submarine Warfare German U-boats – short for unterseeboot or submarine Passenger and merchant ships had no defense. Subs could go undetected nearly anywhere in the ocean. This struck many Americans as uncivilized. http://images.encarta.msn.com/xrefmedia/sharemed/targets/ images/pho/0005c/0005c03d.jpg
British cut the transatlantic cable connecting Germany and the U.S.. • Result all news came through London = pro-Allied bias • German U-boats sank British passenger liner, Lusitania. • 1200 passengers, 128 Americans and weapons • Passengers had been warned to stay off British ships. http://www.wreckhunter.net/images/lusitania-nyt2.JPG
Wilson urged patience from Americans, demanded Germany stop submarine warfare and make payments to the victims families. • Germany replied ship carried arms. • After second note from Wilson, Germany agreed to stop sinking passenger ships without warning as long as crew offered no resistance to German search or seizure.
1916 – U-boat sank the Sussex a French passenger steamship. • The U.S. threatened to cut diplomatic ties. • Sussex pledge – German government again promised that U-boats would warn ships before attacking. • Germany’s broken promises frustrated Wilson who now embraced preparedness and authorized U.S. bankers to grant a huge loan to allies.
Moving Toward War • 1917 Germany resumed unrestricted warfare. • Germany thought they could defeat Great Britain before U.S. could make a difference. • Wilson broke off diplomatic relations with Germany and ask Congress for permission to arm U.S. merchant ships.
http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Zimmermann The Zimmerman Note • Anti-war senator’s attempted filibuster to prevent action. • Filibuster – senators take floor and refuse to stop talking to prevent a vote on a measure • British revealed contents of secret telegram from Arthur Zimmermann, Germany’s foreign minister, to Mexico. http://www.ulm.ccc.de/old/chaos-seminar/ krypto2/zimmermann-telegramm.jpg
Promised Mexico Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona for alliance. • Mexico and Wilson did not take it seriously but it influenced public relations.
Revolution in Russia • 1917 Russia many casualties, malnutrition, miserably equipped, Austria/German forces deep in interior. • Czar Nicholas II, autocratic leader, forced out of power. • Monarchy replaced with republican government. http://www.geektimes.com/michael/site/archive/ 2003/05/images/czar-nicholas-ii-family.jpg
Russian revolution elated pro-war faction. • Americans did not want to be allied to a Czar. • U.S. free to commit to allies.
The War Resolution • 1917 Germany sank U.S. ships City of Memphis, Illinois, and Vigilancia. • Wilson’s cabinet voted unanimously for war. • War resolution passed 82-6 in senate. • 373-50 in house • April 6, 1917 signed by President Wilson.
Jeannette Rankin • Jeannette Rankin, Montana, first woman elected to Congress 1916. (1880-1973) • Voted : “ I want to stand by my country, but I cannot vote for war. I vote no.” • Veteran House Member urged her to vote for war. She was represent the womanhood of the country. http://www.peaceisawomansjob.com/images/jeannette_small_01.jpg