The United States and World War I

The Roots of War  Militarism  Alliance System  Imperialism  Nationalism

U.S. Neutrality  Washington’s Farewell Address  Jefferson:”…peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations; entangling alliances with none.”  President Wilson vowed to remain neutral.

World War I Begins  Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, was assassinated by a Serbian nationalist on June 28,  Austria-Hungary, backed by Germany, demanded that the Serbs allow them to conduct an investigation of the assassination.  Serbia refused, knowing that it had the backing of Russia.

 Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia July 28.  Triple Alliance (Central Powers): Germany and Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire  Triple Entente: Russia, France, and Britain  President Wilson declared official neutrality on August 19.

A Bloody Stalemate in Europe  : Both sides suffered enormous casualties and remained entrenched in eastern France and western Germany  Trench Warfare

German U-Boats Violate International Law  1915: Germany began using unrestricted submarine warfare to prevent supplies from reaching Great Britain  The Sinking of the Lusitania Sailed from NYC to England and was attacked by a German U-boat Over 1200 died, including 128 Americans and 125 children The secret cargo, including 4200 cases of gun cartridges, went down with the ship. Wilson campaigns for US neutrality: “He kept us out of war.”

The Lusitania

Why did the U.S. enter the war?  Cultural links  Few Americans were actually neutral.  Economic ties  Propaganda  Unrestricted Submarine Warfare  Events of 1917

Events of 1917  Unrestricted Submarine Warfare  Zimmerman note: message from German foreign secretary to Mexico asking for an alliance  Four U.S. merchant ships were sunk by the Germans  Russian Revolution

The U.S. on the Homefront  Espionage and Sedition Acts, 1917 Outlawed criticism of the war and the draft Fined up to $10,000 and up to 20 years in jail Violation of the 1 st Amendment  “Liberty Cabbage”  Selling of “Liberty Bonds”