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WWI Involvement in the Americas: Impact on Relationships and Neutrality

Explore the involvement of countries in the Americas during WWI and how their relationships with the US impacted their decisions. Learn about naval warfare and Wilson's policy of Moral Diplomacy.

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WWI Involvement in the Americas: Impact on Relationships and Neutrality

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  1. BELLWORK: 12/2 • Describe Wilson’s policy of Moral Diplomacy. Why do you think this was important to WWI? • Who had the advantage in naval warfare? Why? • THINKER: Why did Canada get involved in WWI? Do you think they supported/opposed involvement?

  2. WWI in the Americas Make a prediction  Why would other countries in the Americas get involved in WWI? How did their relationship with the U.S. impact their involvement? Using a “case study approach,” you will study WWI involvement for the following countries: United States Canada Brazil

  3. Involvement in the Americas • Bolivia: Severed relations with Germany - April 13, 1917 • Brazil: Severed relations with Germany - April 11, 1917 & Declared war on Germany - Oct 26, 1917 • Canada: Automatically involved when Britain declared war – Aug 4, 1914 • Costa Rica: Severed relations with Germany - Sept 21, 1917 & Declared war on Germany - May 23, 1918 • Cuba: Declared war on Germany - April 7, 1917 • Ecuador: Severed relations with Germany - Dec 8, 1917 • Guatemala: Declared war on Germany - April 23, 1918 • Haiti: Declared war on Germany - July 12, 1918 • Honduras: Declared war on Germany - July 19, 1918 • Nicaragua: Declared war on Germany and Austria-Hungary - May 8, 1918 • Panama: Declared war on Germany - April 7, 1917 & Declared war on Austria-Hungary - Dec 10, 1917 • Peru: Severed relations with Germany - Oct 6, 1917 • United States: Declared war April 2, 1917 • Uruguay: Severed relations with Germany - Oct 7, 1917

  4. ALLIED POWERS CENTRAL POWERS NEUTRAL COUNTRIES

  5. HOMEWORK – WWI in the Americas! • Canadian Involvement  pages 160-172 • Due Wednesday! • U.S. Homefront pgs. 144-152 • Due Friday! • These are your notes – make sure you read for understanding and summarize the main concepts!

  6. Naval Warfare in WWI • Two goals • Protect shipping/trade routes • Blockade enemy = economic destruction • Germany had two major disadvantages: • Numerically • Geographically • To counter this, Germany used hit-and-run naval tactics to avoid engaging entire British Fleet until….. • Battle of Jutland

  7. Battle of Jutland • May 1916 • Germany tried to lure British ships into a trap • Britain deciphered German radio signals and sent more ships • 250 ships exchanged artillery fire • Germany forced to retreat; did not destroy British fleet • Both sides realized that they had too much to lose if they waged a head-on naval battle  stick to submarine warfare/mines!

  8. Thursday: 12/5U.S. Involvement in WWI Do you think it’s possible for a superpower like the U.S. to be neutral during WWI? Why or why not?

  9. In August 1914, Wilson officially declared the U.S. “neutral.” Wilson was reelected in 1916 with the slogan, “HE HAS KEPT US OUT OF WAR!” U.S. Neutrality “We must be impartial in thought, as well as, action!” - Wilson; 1914

  10. Allied war purchases fed an economic boom in the U.S. America trade with allies rose from $825 million in 1914 to $3.2 billion in 1916. U.S. Neutrality

  11. By the Numbers… • 1914 trade w/Britain $743 million • 1914 trade w/Germany $345 million • 1916 trade w/Britain $3 billion • 1916 trade w/Germany $29 million • Loans to Britain  $2.3 Billion • Loans to Germany  $27 million

  12. German U-Boats, or submarines, were used to attack enemy ships. Submarine Warfare Germany warned: All seas around Britain and Ireland to be a war zone All enemy ships in the zone were targets to be sunk Neutral ships might be attacked by mistake American passengers should stay off all Allied ships German U-Boats

  13. Wilson’s Message to Germany "If such a deplorable situation should arise, the Imperial German Government can readily appreciate that the Government of the United States would take any steps it might be necessary to take to safeguard American lives and property and to secure to American citizens the full enjoyment of their rights on the high seas“ To summarize  Germany WILL be held responsible for loss of American ships or American lives!!!!

  14. Lusitania • May 7, 1915 – German submarine attacked the Lusitania, a British passenger ship. • The Germans believed the ship was secretly carrying weapons to Britain. • Killed 1,000 people, including 128 Americans. • Wilson struggles to maintain neutrality.

  15. Change in German War Strategy • On Christmas Day 1915, Falkenhayn (German Chief of Staff) wrote a letter to Kaiser Wilhelm (leader of Germany) to revise war strategy: • Russia close to revolution • France weakened on Western front • Britain was key in Allied victory – focus on destroying her!  • So he recommended unrestricted submarine warfare!

  16. Closer to War • Allies suffer major losses and beg the U.S. for help. • Germany announced an unrestricted submarine campaign (after Battle of Jutland) • Germans sank U.S. supply ships City of Memphis, Illinois, and Vigilante. • 1916 – Congress expands Army, National Guard, and Navy. (mobilization) • Wilson issues an ultimatum to Germany: unless they abandon unrestricted submarine warfare against all ships, the U.S. would break off diplomatic relations……. Germany promised to comply

  17. Zimmerman Note • In January 1917, Arthur Zimmerman, a German official, proposed a deal with Mexico. • Mexico should ally itself with Germany to attack the U.S. • In return, Mexico would receive land lost to the U.S. in 1848. • A British official intercepted Zimmerman’s telegram and spread the news to the U.S.

  18. Wilson breaks neutrality • Even after Germany broke several ultimatums and promises, Wilson still wished to avoid war. • Then, on March 18th, German U-boats sank three more unarmed American ships, also without warning. • Two days later, on March 20th, Wilson held a three hour Cabinet meeting to hear opinions about what should be done – Congress supported war! • Wilson declares war on April 2, 1917.

  19. Presidential Address to the Senate • Even after the Zimmerman Telegram, Wilson was still reluctant to declare war. • In an effort to justify neutrality he held a meeting with the Senate on January 22, 1917. • At this meeting he gave one of his most famous addresses in which he supports Moral Diplomacy and an attempted compromise with all nations at war. It’s seen as his final effort to bring compromise, peace, and an end to war. • This speech will become the foundation for the League of Nations. • Read Wilson’s Address to the Senate and annotate on three points: • Summary of his important points (link to Moral Diplomacy and U.S. neutrality) • Plans for the future (How can the world achieve peace?) • Your personal response (Is compromise or peace possible? Do you agree with Wilson’s ideas?)

  20. U.S. Homefront: Homework Review • How did the U.S. prepare for war on the homefront? • Economic preparations • Military preparations • What new laws/policies were created to support U.S. mobilization efforts? • What problems/opposition arose as a result of U.S. entrance into WWI?

  21. Partner Discussion • Why did Germany find it necessary to publicize their submarine warnings? • Why would Wilson maintain neutrality despite Germany’s submarine attack?

  22. Britain was not innocent either… • By November 1914, Great Britain was the strongest naval power in the world, so they used their power to: • Mine the North Sea • Blockade goods to Germany • Seized shipments of non-military supplies from the U.S. that were bound for neutral ports • Increased their list of contraband, or prohibited supplies • Broke international law by searching neutral merchant ships • Why do you think the U.S. would punish Germany for breaking international law, but not Britain? • Pro-British sympathy among influential government officials: • Secretary of State Robert Lansing • Wilson’s personal advisor, Edward M. House • U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain, Walter Hines Page • The British blockade affected property but not lives. The German blockade threatened both.

  23. Review: U.S. Involvement in WWI

  24. U.S. Homefront • To learn more about the U.S. Homefront, read pgs. 144-152 in the IB history textbook and take notes on the following points: • Military Preparations • Economic Preparations • Changing roles of minority groups • Opposition to the War • Make sure to focus on how/why that increased U.S. preparations and acts/laws

  25. Homework: Wilson’s Declaration of War

  26. Previous BW: 12/6 • What was the purpose of Wilson’s January 22nd address to the Senate? • What did Wilson deem necessary in order to establish a “permanent peace.”

  27. PREVIOUS HMWK – Wilson’s first speech questions……. • What did it mean to be an internationalist? • What did Wilson’s vision for a post-war world look like? • Despite knowing continued submarine warfare would bring the U.S. into the conflict, German high command increased aggressive attacks…why???

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