u.s. “neutrality” in wwi

13
U.S. “Neutrality” in WWI

Upload: nydia

Post on 24-Feb-2016

63 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

DESCRIPTION

U.S. “Neutrality” in WWI. What does it mean to be “neutral”?. U.S. “Neutrality” in WWI. By 1914 the U.S. had about $3.5 Billion in investments in Europe. Throughout the war the United States was selling weapons to England. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: U.S. “Neutrality” in WWI

U.S. “Neutrality” in WWI

Page 2: U.S. “Neutrality” in WWI

What does it mean to be “neutral”?

Page 3: U.S. “Neutrality” in WWI

U.S. “Neutrality” in WWI• By 1914 the U.S. had about $3.5 Billion in

investments in Europe.• Throughout the war the United States was selling

weapons to England.• From the start of the war up to April of 1917 more

than $2 Billion worth of goods had been sold to the Allies.

• In 1915 (after Woodrow Wilson lifted a ban on private bank loans to the Allies) U.S. banks like J.P. Morgan and Company began loaning large sums of money to England.

Page 4: U.S. “Neutrality” in WWI
Page 5: U.S. “Neutrality” in WWI

U.S. “Neutrality” in WWI

• In 1915, due, in part, to the volume of trade occurring between England, the U.S., and other Allies, Germany engaged in “Unrestricted Submarine Warfare.”

• This resulted in the loss of nearly half of Britain's merchant marine fleet during the course of the war.

Page 6: U.S. “Neutrality” in WWI
Page 7: U.S. “Neutrality” in WWI

U.S. “Neutrality” in WWI• In 1915, a British ship, the Lusitania, was

torpedoed and sunk by a German Submarine.

• It was said to have been nothing more than a passenger ship, but in actuality it was carrying weapons to England.

• 1,248 people died, including 124 Americans.

• But this was not the direct cause for the U.S. to enter the war.

Page 8: U.S. “Neutrality” in WWI
Page 9: U.S. “Neutrality” in WWI
Page 10: U.S. “Neutrality” in WWI

The Direct Cause

• Zimmermann Telegram– A telegram from Germany to Mexico asking to

make war against the U.S. - January 16, 1917.

• "We intend to begin on the first of February unrestricted submarine warfare. We shall endeavor in spite of this to keep the United States of America neutral. In the event of this not succeeding, we make Mexico a proposal of alliance on the following basis: make war together, make peace together, generous financial support and an understanding on our part that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The settlement in detail is left to you.” – Arthur Zimmermann

Page 11: U.S. “Neutrality” in WWI
Page 12: U.S. “Neutrality” in WWI

U.S. in WWI

• The U.S. officially entered WWI on April 6, 1917.

• Over 4 million American military personnel served in the war, of which about 110,000 died (about 43,000 due to the Spanish Flu).

Page 13: U.S. “Neutrality” in WWI