Baltimore Polytechnic Institute January 6, 2011 U.S. History Mr. Green

The students will analyze public opinion about the war in the United States by listing events that promoted and or slowed the entrance of the U.S. into the war. Announcement: Warm-up Question: Review the chart on page 398 and answer the following: 1. By how much did U.S. exports to France increase between 1910 and 1915? 2. What does the pattern of U.S. exports show about which side the U.S. took in the European war?

American Neutrality Many U.S. Citizens followed the war because they had family in Europe Opposition to the War Socialists criticized the war as a capitalist endeavor Pacifists believed the war was evil Naturalized citizens had close ties to Europe Parents did not want their sons to experience horrors of war

Sympathy for the Allies Many Americans sided with Great Britain and France Germany was viewed as the aggressor America had strong economic ties with the allies Militarism Nationalism and imperialism caused military budgets to increase Nations wanted to be stronger than a potential enemy Nations developed armed forces as a tool of diplomacy Germany began building its navy in response to the great navy of England

2 main reasons: Ensure repayment of debt to U.S. Prevent German attacks on U.S. shipping British Blockade Britain prevented boats bound for Germany Many Germans starved German U-Boat Response Germany sank boats around Great Britain as a response to the British Blockade Many lives were lost which negatively impacted Germany Lusitania sunk on May 7, 1915 killing 128 Americans

The U.S. remains neutral Germany continued to attack liners Germany promised to stop if the British stopped blockading food/fertilizer shipments Unrestricted submarine warfare The 1916 Election Close election but Wilson won on the fact he kept us out of war Neutrality collapses Wilson tried to get all sides to have “peace without victory” Germany laughed, and resumed unrestricted submarine warfare Wilson waited for an overt act, the Zimmerman note

The Zimmerman Note 4 unarmed American merchant ships Russia became a democracy after the Czar was removed Wilson asked for a war declaration and got it on April 2, 1917 to make the “world safe for democracy” Hand-out primary source

What did the following nations do to encourage U.S. participation in the war? 1. Britain 2. Germany 3. Russia

1. Page 401 Question #2. 2. Analyze to what extent public opinion about the war in the United States promoted and or slowed the entrance of the U.S. into the war.