Challenges to the U.S. Policy of Neutrality

Warm Up:WHO suggested the United States stay neutral and what was his reasoning?

Stalemate:DeadlockBritain vs. Germany

LAND WAR DRAGGED ON “No Man’s Land”

Need to win control of the sea

British BlockadeBritain blocks ships heading to Germany.

Turn back ships carrying weapons, food, supplies to the Central Powers, even neutral ships from the U.S.

Turn & Talk

Why is a blockade an effective warfare tactic?

The U.S. has declared neutrality. Predict: How do you think they will react to the blockade? How will this affect the foreign policy between the United States and other countries?

U.S. ReactionPresident Wilson complained to the British about stopping neutral ships. DID NOT threaten to take action though…

WHY?

War was Good for the U.S. Economy

Trade with Britain boosted U.S. economy.

U.S. banks and businesses earned millions of dollars from loans and exports to the Allies. Export of products = jobs

Turn & Talk Do you believe that businessmen and workers in the United States agreed with neutrality? Why or why not?

Germany Challenges the British Blockade

U-boat: submarine“undersea boat”

Germany declares the water around Britain a war zone.

German U-boats could sink enemy ships without warning.

International Law and CustomWarships have the right to stop and search merchant ships they suspect of trying to break a naval blockade.

Warships can even sink these shipsIF

They remove crew and passengers first.

U.S. ReactionSinking merchant ships without protecting the lives of passengers and crews violated international law.

The U.S. will hold Germany accountable for the loss of an American lives!

Sinking of the LusitaniaU-boat sinks British passenger liner without warning.

128 Americans dieGermany argues the ship was carrying weapons and ammunition.

Turn & TalkHow did people react when the U.S. was attacked on September 11, 2001 and the twin towers fell which caused the loss of American lives.?

How do you think the people in the United States reacted to the sinking of the Lusitania?

Secretary of StateWilliam Jennings Bryan

State Department LawyerRobert Lansing

Debate

The U.S. should stay neutralLet the monarchs of Europe

fight it out.U.S. should accept

submarine warfare and warn U.S. citizens they travel on British ships at their own risk.

Americans have a right to travel on British ships.

The U.S. should protect that right!

Wilson Warns GermanySends Germany series of notes…

You must STOP unrestricted submarine warfare.Secretary of State Bryan resigns because he believes the notes violate neutrality.

Four months after the sinking of the Lusitania, Germany sinks another British ship killing two Americans. Wilson sends another note.

Sussex PledgeGermany promises to spare all lives in any future U-boat attacks on merchant ships.

Condition: U.S. must force Britain to end its blockade.

Wilson accepts the pledge but DOES NOT accept the condition.

Closing/Exit SlipDescribe how the foreign policy between Germany and the United States evolved during the early years of WWI and challenged neutrality.