Wilson & Neutrality

New Type of War Trench warfare This strategy called for armies to dig deep ditches to provide protection, as well as a way to defend their position.

No-Man’s Land This was the name given to the land between the trenches. Most of the fighting and dying took place in this area.

Casualties Casualties (in military terms) are people killed, wounded, or taken prisoner.

Casualties High casualties resulted in World War I, from old Military fighting techniques combined with new destructive weapons.

New Weapons Airplanes. U-Boats. Battleships. Tanks. Modern Machine Guns. Accurate Artillery. Poison Gasses (Cl, C4H8Cl2S. Airplanes. U-Boats. Battleships. Tanks.

Stalemate As both sides struggle for position in the trenches, a stalemate, or SITUATION IN WHICH NEITHER SIDE CAN WIN A CLEAR VICTORY occurs.

Wilson’s Stance Wilson makes his neutrality stance known from the start of the war. He wants to keep open markets with the Central Powers and Allied Powers. The US will send supplies to both sides.

Neutrality It is hard to maintain neutrality. Britain dominates the seas. Little supplies reach Germany from the U.S. These supplies will be Brought by the British.

German Response They need to keep the U.S. out of the war. They start sinking more ships in the Atlantic. Many Americans will die.

Lusitania In May of 1915, the British passenger liner was sunk. Went down with 1 torpedo People believe it was carrying weapons and troops.

Sussex Pledge Wilson is outraged by this and is threatening Germany with military action. To keep the U.S. out of the war, the Sussex Pledge is offered to the U.S. “A promise not to sink ships without a warning.”

Zimmermann Note Plan intercepted to propose a German Mexican alliance. Mexico to attack the U.S. Southwest. When the Germans win, they will help them take back Texas and the Southwest.

What would your reaction be if you were living in 1916?

Why do you believe Wilson was hesitant to go to war quickly?

H.W. Read Pg.672-677 Questions 1,2,3