Road to U.S. Involvement in WWI How we got...Over There

Perspectives According to your reading...Text 372-380 What was the opinion of socialists in America? How did recent Irish, Italian and German immigrants view the war? What was the perspective of U.S. manufacturers?

Trade Imbalance Makes America Reliant on Europe Steel Iron Farm Products Machinery and Agricultural implements

Invasion of Neutral Belgium

How does this map support an acto if neutrality in the U.S.?

Loans to Allies Convinced that wartime trade was necessary to fuel the growth of American trade, President Wilson refused to impose an embargo on trade with the belligerents. During the early years of the war, trade with the Allies tripled. Allies' cash reserves exhausted..forcing them to ask the United States for credit. In October 1915, President Wilson permitted loans to belligerents. By 1917, American loans to the Allies had soared to $2.25 billion; loans to Germany stood at a paltry $27 million.

Shipping Continues Weapons and Munitions Lusitania Confidence of passengers Questionable Cargo Complicity of German submarines Lack of Preparation in UK, where capsized Assignment: Re-read Pg. 378 about Lusitania.

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

Involvement in Mexico Elicits the Zimmerman Note January 1917---British Intelligence decodes telegram Feb. 26th--Wilson is informed and authorizes State Dept. to release its contents; Wilson asks Congress to arm U.S. ships March 1st--Newspapers reveal the telegram April 2nd--Wilson asks Congress for a Declaration of War

Political Phases Declaration of Neutrality Trade Alliances Election of 1916: Pacifists v. Interventionists Freedom of the Seas Congress Declares War

U.S. Declaration of War There are, it may be, many months of fiery trial and sacrifice ahead of us. It is a fearful thing to lead this great peaceful people into war, into the most terrible and disastrous of all wars, civilization itself seeming to be in the balance. But the right is more precious than peace, and we shall fight for the things which we have always carried nearest our hearts -- for democracy, for the right of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their own governments, for the rights and liberties of small nations, for a universal dominion of right by such a concert of free peoples as shall bring peace and safety to all nations and make the world itself at last free.

War Breaks Out... Compromise of American Values? Freedom of Thought Freedom of Speech Freedom of Choice

Domestic Impacts of WWI Debates Step 1: One person read the hand out to the group and discuss how it relates to the question. Step 2:Read assigned sections in the text and prepare notes that could be used to argue BOTH sides of the question you are assigned. Notes should include summary descriptions of listed terms and points to argue related to prompt (in your own words). [Group Submits one (1) sheet at the end]

U.S. Foreign Policy Under Wilson “Wilson supported private American investment in Latin America and elsewhere, but the promotion of democracy was a higher priority. “ In 1914, disturbed by the violence of Mexico's revolution (and the arrest of U.S. sailors in Tampico), Wilson sent American troops across the border. The next year, he dispatched Marines to Haiti. Is the declaration of war (previous slide) a continuation of U.S. foreign policy?