ISN L 57

•Under what circumstances is it appropriate for a country to go to war? Explain

One paragraph- five sentences

Objective• To understand the series of events that led to

the United States’ involvement in The Great War aka World War I

• Essential Question (on page 53):

ISN page 58• Take out one sheet of paper

• Create a Sequencing Map with three boxes on one side and three on the other

• Title Page 54

From Neutrality to War

World War IWednesday, April 19, 2023

1 Europe on the Brink of War:The Roots of War• late 1800’s & early 1900’s, relations between

European Nations grew very tense.

• 3 sources of this tension: • Nationalism• Militarism• entangled alliances

• Nationalism:− Europeans were extremely devoted to the

interests of their own country.− Some European countries like Italy (1870) and

Germany (1871) had recently became independent nations.

− European ethnic minorities under foreign rule were fiercely nationalistic and strongly desired independence.

• Militarism:− The glorification of armed strength and the

ideals of war.− This led to large and sophisticated militaries.− European countries competed to develop

military strength.− Between 1870 and 1914 European countries

increased their military spending by 300%.

• Entangled Alliances:− Because of the increase in military power nations

started to form alliances with other nations.− The Triple Alliance (1882):

• Germany, Italy and the Austro-Hungarian− The Triple Entente (1907):

• France, Great Britain and Russia

• By 1914 tensions between nations were high. War was right around the corner.

U.S. Neutrality• From the earliest days as a nation the U.S. held a strong

noninvolvement policy towards European nations.

• In the early 1900’s the U.S. wanted to establish political and economic dominance in the Western Hemisphere.− Mostly in the Caribbean and Latin America.

• However, U.S. neutrality would be challenged in the summer of 1914 when war broke out in Europe.

The Roots of War

2. World War I Begins:The Assassination of the Archduke• WWI began on June 28, 1914 when the heir of

the Austria-Hungarian throne, Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated by Serbian nationalist.

The War Begins• Austria-Hungry who was backed by the German

military gave Serbia a list of demands:• Serbia must suppress all anti-Austrian activities.• Allow Austrian officials to investigate the

assassination.• Serbia must comply with these two things or face

war.

• Serbia, knowing that they had Russia’s refused to accept the demands

• Austria-Hungary declared war with Serbia on July 28th.

• As a result Germany declared war with Russia on August 1st and then with France on August 3rd.

• From that Britain declared war with Germany on August 4th.

• Because of all the entangled alliances in Europe, WWI was now underway.

The U.S. Declares Neutrality• On the same day that the war erupts in Europe, President

Woodrow Wilson declares U.S. neutrality.

• “Every man who really loves America will act and speak in the true spirit of neutrality, which is the spirit of impartiality and fairness and friendliness to all concerned.” “The United States must be impartial in thought as well as in action.”

-- President Woodrow Wilson

3. A Bloody Stalemate in Europe:Quick Victory Eludes Warring Nations• Both the Allies (Britain, France and Russian) and the

Central Powers (Austria-Hungary, Germany and the Ottoman Empire) believed they could quickly win the war.

• September 1914 nearly 1 million German troops advanced within 50 miles of Paris and had seriously crippled the Russian Army.

• Allied forces in France then pushed back the Germans along the western front.

• By the end of 1914 both sides faced serious causalities and looked like there was no end in sight.

The Horror of Trench Warfare• Trench warfare centered around a series of

trenches that covered over 475 miles.

• The trenches were dug so that soldiers could avoid constant attack from automatic gunfire and heavy-duty artillery.

• Some of the new modern weapons were:• Automatic machine guns• Mechanized cannons• Poisonous gas

Life in the Trenches• Water collected in the trenches.

• In many cases it would be waist deep with ice water and mud.

• This water and mud would clog up the soldiers guns and make them useless.

• These conditions led to diseases such as “trench foot.” The foot would rot away and would usually lead to amputations.

• Rats invaded at night. They would often feed on the dead bodies left inside the trenches.

The U.S. Maintains Neutrality• Most American’s were horrified by the news

of the European War.

• Some American’s joined the Red Cross and witnessed the war first hand.

• Some American’s joined the Allied forces by signing up with the French Foreign Legion.

• The U.S. government continued to maintain its official position of neutrality.

• President Wilson secretly was sympathetic towards the Allied forces and supplied the allied forces with food, weapons and other war supplies.

• Many American banks advanced billions of dollars to the Allied forces through bond sells.

• This did not go unnoticed by the Central Powers.

European Conflict

4. German U-Boats ViolateInternational Law• “unrestricted submarine warfare”

• Wilson warn would be “held fully accountable”

• Germany was not willing to guarantee protection to U.S. Ships.

• 90 ships sunk in 4 months• 1 U.S. tanker.• This made President Wilson angry.

The Sinking of the Lusitania• May 7th a German U-Boat sinks the

Lusitania.

• There were 2,000 people on the ship.• 1,200 died• 128 were American• 125 were children

• Secret cargo of war materials.

Wilson Campaigns forU.S. Neutrality• The American public was outraged.

• Wilson was still wants neutrality.

• Tensions between the U.S. and Germany Continue to grow.

5. U.S. Enters the War:The Zimmerman Telegram• German foreign secretary Arthur von

Zimmerman sent a telegram to the German Ambassador in Mexico.

• Intercepted and translated by the British.• Stated that Germany would resume

“unrestricted submarine warfare.”• Proposed that Mexico join with Germany.• U.S. Papers publish telegram.• American public wants war.

U.S. Declares War on Germany• April 2nd Wilson asks Congress to go to war.

• “The world must be safe for democracy… The United States has no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion… We are but one of the champions of the rights for mankind.”

• April 6th at 3am the U.S. enters the war.

American Opposition• Some Americans don’t want war:

• Women• Quakers• Socialist• Many peace groups

America Joins the War

6. Mobilizing for War• U.S. not ready for war.

• Actions to prepare for war− Military draft.− Increase production− Intense propaganda campaign

Over ThereJohnnie get your gun, get your gun, get your gun,

Take it on the run, on the run, on the run,

Hear them calling you and me,

Every son of liberty.

Hurry right away, no delay, go today,

Make your daddy glad to have had such a lad,

Tell your sweetheart not to pine,

To be proud her boy’s in line.

Over there, over there,

Send the word, send the word, over there,

That the Yanks are coming, the Yanks are coming,

The drums rum tumming everywhere,

So prepare, say a prayer,

Send the word, send the word, to beware,

We’ll be over, we’re coming over,

And we won’t come back till it’s over,

Over there.

Johnnie get your gun, get your gun, get your gun,

Johnnie show the Hun, you’re a son-of-a-gun,

Hoist the flag and let her fly,

Like true heroes do or die.

Pack your little kit, show your grit, do your bit,

Soldiers on the ranks from the towns and the tanks,

Make your mother proud of you,

And to liberty be true.

Over there, over there,

Send the word, send the word, over there,

That the Yanks are coming, the Yanks are coming,

The drums rum tumming everywhere,

So prepare, say a prayer,

Send the word, send the word, to beware,

We’ll be over, we’re coming over,

And we won’t come back till it’s over,

Over there.

The Effects of Propaganda• Espionage Act of 1917

• Sedition Act of 1918

• Designed to stop treason.

• Over 2,000 American’s were prosecuted.

• To reject anything German.

Leaving for Europe• Excitement among soldiers

• Adventure and heroism

• Reality quickly hit them− “We were all scared, just as scared as human

beings can be short of complete breakdown.”

American Troops in Europe• 2 million troops

• “The U.S. soldiers were half trained, half organized, with only their courage, their numbers and their magnificent youth behind their weapons.”− Winston Churchill− British Statesman

The End of World War I• 1918 U.S. Troops help in many key battles

• Central Power start to fall− Bulgaria− Ottoman Empire− Austria-Hungary

• German people overthrow the Kaiser− November 9, 1918

• Install a republic− November 11 at 11am WWI ends

World War I Death Toll• Soldiers

− 10 million killed− 20 million wounded

• Civilians− 10 million killed− 20 million wounded

• United States− 110,000 killed− 300,000 wounded

Supporting the War