The United States Entry into World War I

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The United States Entry into World War I
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At the start of the war ...

• Woodrow Wilsondeclared a USpolicy of
  absoluteneutrality.

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Why Neutrality?

• 1/3 of the US population were either first or
  second generation immigrants from England,
  France, Germany, etc.
• American tradition of staying out of foreign wars
  its over there.

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Presidential Preference/Diplomacy

• England and France have similar governments to
  the US, while Germany and AH are ruled by a
  monarchy

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Reasons US Entered WWI
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Submarine Warfare

• British blockades of Germany strangled the
  country
• Germany resorted to submarines to get around the
  blockades to sink ships from any country
  supplying their enemy

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Submarine Warfare

• May 7, 1915 German u-boats sunk a British
  passenger liner named the Lusitania
• It had been loaded with over 4,000 cases of small
  arms destined for England
• 128 Americans died

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Submarine Warfare

• March 24, 1916 German u-boats sunk French
  passenger liner named the Sussex
• Many Americans were injured

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Submarine Warfare

• Germany signed the Sussex Pledge - stating they
  would announce themselves to ships before firing
  upon them
• Asked US to help end blockade of Germany we
  said NO!

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Submarine Warfare

• Germany had many starving
• Feb. 1, 1917 Germany breaks pledge declare
  unrestricted submarine warfare
• US breaks off relations with Central Powers

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Zimmerman Note
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Key Players

• Arthur Zimmermann German Foreign Minister
• Von Eckhardt German Ambassador in Mexico

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Zimmermann Note

• German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmerman had
  proposed an alliance between Germany and Mexico,
  calling for Mexico to attack the US southern
  borders in order to re-capture their lost lands.

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Zimmermann Note

• The plan was to keep the US out of Europe long
  enough so that Germany could win the war before
  we arrived on behalf of the Allies.
• Wilson released letter to press

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Wilsons War Message

• April 2, 1917 Wilson asked Congress to declare
  war
• Stated the world must be made safe for
  democracy.
• Congress declared war!

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THE DRAFTAMERICANS WHO FOUGHT
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The Draft

• The Selective Service Act of May 1917 was
  established to draft young men for the military
  service
• Early on men age 21-31 were drafted by late
  1918 it extended to include men age 18-45

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The Draft

• By November 1918 more than 24 million had
  registered for the draft
• From those a lottery selected 3 million to serve
  in the war

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American Expeditionary Force (AEF)

• Name of American Troops in the war
• Led by General John Pershing

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Women in the War

• Filled a variety of roles in the war effort
  including caregivers (nurses) and home defense
• A small number worked in the signal corps
  (communications)

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Telephone Operators
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Navy Nurses aboard USS George Washington in 1918
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African Americans in the War

• Many had no choice where to serve only the Navy
  and Army accepted recruits
• Served as laborers, delivery personnel,
  messengers, and in the kitchen (within the navy)

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African Americans in the War

• Several regiments were loaned out to the French
  and saw combat
• The 369th Regiment or Harlem Hell Fighters was
  cited most for their bravery and as the first to
  reach the Rhine River in Germany

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Sergeant Henry Johnson, 369th Infantry ("Harlem
Hellfighters"), who single-handedly fought off a
German raiding party to save his comrade, Private
Needham Roberts, 1918.
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African Americans Post-War

• Frustrated at the freedoms that they experienced,
  but did not return to in the US
• Experience (and freedom) overseas led to the
  early beginnings of the Civil Rights movement

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Situation in Europe

• Bolsheviks Russian Communists over throw the
  Czar
• Vladimir Lenin - leader of the Bolsheviks

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Situation in Europe

• March 3, 1918 Russia signs treaty w/ Germany
• March May Germany pushed deep into France
• June 3, 1918 Germany 50 miles from Paris

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End of World War I

• Bulgaria surrenders on September 29, 1918
• The Ottoman Empire (Turkey) surrenders on October
  30, 1918

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End of World War I

• Austria-Hungary surrenders on November 3, 1918
• 1100 AM, November 11, 1918, Germany surrenders

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• Nearly 10 Million men died in WWI

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• Approx. 21 million men were wounded in WWI

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Armistice Terms

• Germany left France, Belgium, Luxembourg
• Surrender all war materials
• Allies occupied German Territories

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Wilsons 14 Points

• Wilsons Plan for Peace
• End Causes of War
• No Secret Treaties
• Freedom of the Seas
• Reduction of Weapons

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Wilsons 14 Points

• Self Determination power to make decisions
  about ones future
• Liberate people whose lands were controlled by
  others

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Big 4 Meeting

• US Wilson
• GB David Lloyd George
• France Clemenceau
• Italy Orlando
• Wilson only one who wanted real peace!

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Big 4 Meeting

• Other leaders wanted to divide up Central Powers
• Wilson compromised created League of Nations

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League of Nations

• International peace keeping organization that
  would protect its members
• Would later become the United Nations

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Treaty of Versailles

1. German Colonies given to Allies
2. Alsace-Lorraine given to France
3. Border Changes for Italy, Greece, Romania,
   Belgium

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Treaty of Versailles

• New Countries Created
• Czechoslovakia, Poland, Finland, Estonia, Lativa,
  Lithuania, Yugoslavia
• Germany held responsible
• League of Nations

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