Causes of World War I and U.S. Involvement in the Great War

Why does war begin in Europe? European rivalries over: trade, colonies, military power Alliance System Triple Alliance Triple Entente Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand (6/26/14)

Goals of U.S. Foreign Policy Protect National Security Avoid Foreign Entanglements Encourage International Trade Moral Diplomacy of Woodrow Wilson Moral diplomacy = democracy can save world from humanity’s worst instincts

“The U. S. must be neutral in fact as well as in name “The U.S. must be neutral in fact as well as in name . . . We must be impartial in thought as well as in action.” The European war was one “with which we have nothing to do, whose causes cannot touch us.” -Wilson’s message to the Senate (8/19/1914)

Is the U.S. neutral from the beginning? Sympathy with both sides Allies Central Powers U.S. needs British for economic reasons U.S. neutrality becomes only a slogan (by 1915)

Why does the U.S. get involved? Unrestricted submarine warfare Sinking of the Lusitania Zimmerman Telegram Lusitania – British ship 1000+ killed, 128 Americans – sunk in war zone, warned beforehand, caring munitions Zimmerman telegram – German foreign minister to Mexico writes note to Mexican government that British intercept proposing alliance between two countries reward after war, Mexico gets back lost territory of N. Mexico, Texas and Arizona

U.S. Exports to Countries at War 1914 - 1916 GERMANY 1914 $350 million 1915 $29 million 1916 $300,000 1916* 0.08% *1916 figure as percentage of 1914 figure BRITAIN 1914 $600 million 1915 $900 million 1916 $1.5 billion 1916* 257% *1916 figure as percentage of 1914 figure

“The world must be made safe for democracy “The world must be made safe for democracy. Its peace must be planted upon the tested foundations of political liberty. We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion. We seek no indemnities for ourselves, no material compensation for the sacrifices we shall freely make.” -Wilson (4/2/17)

Mobilizing for War Liberty Bonds and Taxes raised $ for war War Industries Board oversaw production Decided production, fixed prices National War Labor Board Worked to settle disputes that might disrupt production Rationing “Food will win the war” Daylight Saving Time Turning clocks ahead one hour for the summer to lower fuel consumption, shifted 1hr of daylight to night

U.S. Declares War on April 6, 1917 Gen. John “Black Jack’ Pershing American Expeditionary Forces

U.S. and WWI Timeline July-August 1914 – War begins in Europe May 1915 – Lusitania torpedoed January 1917 – Zimmerman Note April 1917 - U.S. declared war on Germany May 1917 - Selective Service Act, Convoys June 1917 - AEF arrived in France November 1918 - Armistice signed June 1919 – Treaty of Versailles

A Lost Generation Total Dead: 8.5 million soldiers Total Wounded: 21 million Russia: 1.7 million soldiers killed France: 1.4 million Great Britain: 900,000 Germany: 1.8 million Austria-Hungary: 1.2 million United States 50,000 died in battle, 126,000 total

1918 Influenza Pandemic (Spanish Flu) Killed more people worldwide than War itself American troops brought it to France in 1918 Affected Healthy Young Adults 1/3 of world population infected 50-100 million (CDC) died