AIM: How did the U.S. get involved in WWI and could it have been avoided?

Do you think it was wise for the USA to stray away from its policies of neutrality and isolationism in the late 1800’s early 1900’s?

How did MANIA cause World War I? Militarism – growing a nation’s military in preparation for war or defense Alliances – creation of friendships between nations that requires response in times of trouble Nationalism – growing pride for one’s country Industrialization & Imperialism – need for growth to get resources and markets (and power!) Assassination – of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary by a Serbian assassin

Who were the players in World War I? TAKE A PIC! 1. The Central Powers: Germany, the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire. These nations banded together, mostly out of national pride, and for revenge for previous losses. 2. The Allied Powers: Great Britain, France, and Russia. Italy initially had a treaty with Germany, but took it back and secretly allied with the Allied Powers. The United States joined the Allied Powers in 1917. Also known as the Triple Alliance Also known as the Triple Entente Why would we, the USA, eventually join the Allied Powers and not the Central Powers?

How was WW1 a “world war”?

Divided Loyalties: DO WE JOIN THE FIGHT? Most Americans did not want their sons to go to war Nativist sentiment – “Keep America for Americans” and remain neutral Americans had cultural ties to Europe – Germans/Irish Americans ALSO felt close to the British –ancestry/ language Strong economic ties to Europe too! What would YOU do?

What did WOODROW want to do? QUOTE ANALYSIS: What did WOODROW want to do?

The USA remained neutral in World War I from 1914 to 1917… The USA declared war in April 1917…but WHY?

How it all began: freedom of the seas DON’T COPY How it all began: freedom of the seas By 1916, the U.S. was a “neutral” nation in name only England began a blockade around Germany to cut off war supplies: Wilson protested that the blockade infringed on America’s right to trade as a neutral nation But the flood of Allied war orders helped fuel the U.S. economy Loans & trade drew the U.S. closer to the Allies while trade with Germany all but ended The U.S. gave $2.5 billion in loans to the Allies, but only $27 million to the Central Powers Trade with the Allies caused U.S. trade to jump from $2 billion to $6 billion from 1913 to 1916! 11

Cause #1: Unrestricted submarine warfare What led us into WWI? Cause #1: Unrestricted submarine warfare Britain set up a blockade against German ports… trying to stop goods being resold from neutral countries to Central Powers. As a result, Germany uses unrestricted submarine warfare against Allied and Neutral ships…

Germany used u-boats to create a naval blockade of England

Cause #2: What happened to the Lusitania? May 7,1915: a German U-boat sank the British liner Lusitania Killed 1,198 people (including 128 Americans) Even though the ship was mostly carrying weapons, many denounced Germany’s actions as MURDER! > American public was outraged! (just like with the U.S.S. Maine)

RESULT of the Sinking of the Lusitania Germany (despite promises to stop) sunk another ship – The Sussex (killing 2 Americans) President Wilson protested & Germany issued the Sussex Pledge – not “to sink merchant or passenger ships without warning and without saving human lives” Did Germany listen? The Sussex Pledge broken: February 1, 1917 Germany CONTINUED unrestricted submarine warfare

United States Navy War Propaganda Poster… WHAT IS THE MESSAGE?

Cause #3: The Zimmerman Telegram from Germany to Mexico intercepted by Britain and shared with the USA

Analyzing the Zimmerman Telegram "We intend to begin on the first of February unrestricted submarine warfare. We shall endeavor in spite of this to keep the United States of America neutral… In the event of this not succeeding, we make Mexico a proposal or alliance on the following basis: make war together, make peace together, generous financial support and an understanding on our part that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona… What is being said here? If the US doesn’t remain neutral, what does Germany propose to Mexico?

Analyzing the Zimmerman Telegram “You will inform the President of the above most secretly as soon as the outbreak of war with the United States Please call the President's attention to the fact that the ruthless employment of our submarines now offers the prospect of compelling England in a few months to make peace." Signed, ZIMMERMANN. Why do you think this document cause anti-German feelings in the US?

What does Wilson say is the real reason the US should declare war? “It is a war against all nations.  American ships have been sunk, American lives taken, in ways which it has stirred us very deeply to learn of, but the ships and people of other neutral and friendly nations have been sunk and overwhelmed in the waters in the same way.  There has been no discrimination. The challenge is to all mankind…We must put excited feeling away.  Our motive will not be revenge or the victorious assertion of the physical might of the nation, but only the vindication of right, of human right, of which we are only a single champion.”

“The world must be made safe for democracy.” TIME FOR WAR!!!! April 2, 1917 Woodrow Wilson declares war on Germany…and the US enters WWI “The world must be made safe for democracy.”

HOMEWORK Activity Use your notes and Powerpoint to help you make the cartoon. Create a cartoon that shows the events that led to US involvement in World War I. Your cartoon must have sentences and images. Use ALL of the given vocabulary words in your sentences. You should have at least one sentence in each box. If you are not so artistically inclined, spend more time on the sentences and use more words than images. BUT, you must make an attempt to visually display your understanding!

Images to Inspire