America enters the War

1. America enters the War Mr. Goddard | PLUSH | 2009

2. ERRATA - Advances in artillery • The German Paris Gun, also known as William's Gun, was the largest rail artillery gun of World War I. In 1918 the Paris Gun was able to shell Paris from 120 km (75 mi) away. It used shells about 210 pounds in weight. • “The gun was capable of hurling a 94 kilogram (210 lb) shell to a range of 130 kilometres (81 miles) and a maximum altitude of 40 kilometres (25 miles) — the greatest height reached by a human-made projectile until the first successful V-2 flight test in October 1942.” • The German howitzer, also known as Big Bertha, was used to shell enemy trenches and fortifications. It was able to shell up to 7.7 miles away and used shells about 1800 pounds in weight.

3. American Neutrality and Entry into World War I

4. Early Statement of Neutrality • The U.S. was determined to adopt a stance of rigid neutrality at the start of the war, and President Wilson announced the American stance to this effect shortly after war broke out, on 19 August 1914, reflecting U.S. popular opinion. • During his address, he warned U.S. citizens against taking sides in the war for fear of endangering the wider U.S. policy. • "The effect of the war upon the United States will depend upon what American citizens say and do.  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."

5. America as a Mediator of Peace • Many American leaders felt that the proper role for the United States was a mediator of peace, though this avenue was exhausted shortly after the war began. • The excerpt references a discussion between Colonel Edward House, who was one of President Wilson’s closest confidants, and a British Foreign Secretary, Sir Edward Grey. • The tone is obviously one of optimism on the side of the Americans, and reluctance from the Allied camp. • "My suggestion is to ask the Allies unofficially, to let me know whether or not it would be agreeable to them to have us demand that hostilities cease. We would put it upon the high ground that the neutral world was suffering along with the belligerents and that we had rights as well as they"

6. Increasing American Involvement with the Belligerents • Despite official neutrality, a huge leap in loans and exports to the Allies led to a vested interest in an Allied victory. • Exports to Germany and its allies rapidly diminished in parallel to a significant rise in shipping to Britain and France. • Such disparities in trade between the belligerents led to increasing conflict both domestically and internationally as many leaders at home and abroad bristled at the U.S. seemingly favoring the Allies.

7. US considerations for which Side • Central Powers • 11 million German Americans • Irish-Americans hated Great Britain • Allied Powers • - Close cultural ties • - Shared transatlantic cables (so censored stories) • - Big business loaned much $ to allies

8. US Trade from 1914 to 1916 • Trade was an important factor in determining US involvement. • The countries needed goods, resources and food. • Notice the increase to Britain and France. If they lost how would we be paid back? • Why did the German trade drop so dramatically? The British Blockade?

9. Major Approaches to the War • Great Britain • Prolong the war • Naval Blockade • Germany • End the war quickly to avoid a 2 – Front War • Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

10. Germany’s Navy • One of the origins of the war was Germany’s Naval build up. • At the start of the war Germany had a considerable naval fleet. • Yet there was only one major naval battle between Britain and Germany in World War I • Why?

11. Germany’s Surface fleet was not a factor • Britain could easily contain the German warships between Norway and Denmark. • Because their surface fleet could not break out, Germany used their submarines to escape out and wreak havoc. Major Bottleneck German naval bases

12. The British Blockade • With such a large navy and the need to grind Germany into surrender, they blockaded all of Germany’s ports. • Started with just weapons and arms • Grew to include Food • Then blockaded neutral ports and mined the North Sea • American ships could no longer trade with Germany • Britain violated the concept of neutrality of the seas a long standing rule.

13. Effects of the blockade • America was angry at Britain • Germany could not get food or fertilizer • Food riots broke out all over Germany in 1916 • Over 750,000 Germans starved as a result of the blockade. • Germany countered with its submarines.

14. SEMI-RESTRICTED U-boat warfare • On 4 February, the German Admiralty issued a formal declaration, which warned neutral shipping to stay away from the waters surrounding Britain and Ireland from 18 February 1915 onwards. • It would sink British or Allied ships on sight in this area. • Six days later U.S. President Woodrow Wilson - at that time maintaining a neutral stance - issued a thinly veiled warning to the German government.

15. US response • This excerpt is his 'Strict Accountability' message, which made it clear that the U.S. government would not tolerate any strategy by the German navy to sink neutral U.S. shipping at any time. • "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 acknowledged rights on the high seas“ • Now the US is also mad at Germany

16. Effects of U-boat warfare • During the war Germany had about 200 U-Boats. • They sunk approximately 200 ships • Killed about 4,000 people. • Some notable highlights:

17. Nail Number 1 - The Lusitania • In 1915, a German submarine torpedoed the Lusitania, a British passenger ship, killing approximately 1,200 people, including 128 Americans.

18. The United States was Angry

19. The Lusitania was carrying military supplies for the Allies • The loading manifest listed military goods and ammunitions for the Allies. • Germany defended its actions but propaganda in the US has turned the public opinion against Germany • Germany later sank the Sussex and Arabic in similar situations. • Its sinking was a major NAIL in the coffin of US neutrality.

20. United states election of 1916 • Wilson ran for re-election in 1916. • The Republicans nominated Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes. • T.R. used his dislike of Wilson to stump for Hughes. • Wilson’s slogan “He kept us out of the war”

21. 1916 Election Results • Wilson narrowly won the election. • Late returns from the west coast made the difference. • His desire to keep the country out of the war was important. • Notice how the northeast, where T.R. was from, voted….

22. Wilson’s situation was difficult after the election • People believed that he would stay out of the war • Businesses could no longer trade with certain European countries because of the blockade. • Germany was killing US citizens with its U-Boats • T.R. and the Republicans were going nuts because they felt Wilson was weak. • None of the warring countries would agree to a negotiated peace. • In 1917, two developments would provide the final two nails in the coffin of American neutrality for Wilson…

23. Nail Number Two – German Unrestricted Submarine Warfare • On January 31st 1917 the Kaiser announced that it would start attacking all vessels (BOTH HOSTILE AND NUETRAL) in British waters with its submarines. • Wilson was surprised. The nations was upset and he had to balance his promise to stay out of the war with Germany’s aggressive policy. • He bought time by saying he would wait and see if they did it.

24. Nail number three - Zimmerman Note • Dispatched by Arthur Zimmerman, German Foreign Secretary to their minister in America with the suggestion that he forward it to the German Ambassador in Mexico. Sent Jan 16 1917 decoded by British cryptographers. Released to the US press March 1. US declared war on April 6.

25. Nail number four – the Russian Revolution • Russia had internal issues due to the Tsar's harsh treatment of its people and poor economic conditions. • Revolutionaries in Russia like Maxim Gorky were well recognized and somewhat supported by America. • In February 1917, what is referred to as the First Russian Revolution began. • Russia began to unravel at an alarming rate.

26. the First Russian Revolution • February 1917 – Riots protesting the shortage of food forced Russia’s Tsar Nicholas II from power. • The royal family was imprisoned and for several months while the war raged Russia went through a series of governments. • October 1917 – The Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, seized power in Russia and began the communist revolution.

27. the First Russian Revolution • Lenin had too many issues to try and successfully continue the war. • An armistice for the eastern front was declared in December 1917. Russia stopped being part of the war. • Germany began moving its troops to the western front. • The official peace between Russia and the Central Powers was negotiated in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.

28. Philosophical Implications on American • Lenin transformed Russia into a Communist Society • Based on Marx’s writings Communism is a concept almost the opposite of America’s. • Communism is a theory that supports the elimination of private property and the equal distribution of goods • Communism supports the violent revolution of the working class against the “bourgeois” ruling class. • Communism is led by a single, authoritarian political party.

29. The Russian communist revolution allowed Wilson to spin US involvement • Wilson had the problem that the US was being pulled into the war despite his campaign slogan. • While Britain and France had governments like the United States; the monarchy of Russia presented issues. • With its removal Wilson was able to approach the war as one about Democracies. • The war was no longer about old powers feuding over ancient grievances, it was now about making the world SAFE FOR DEMOCRACY. • This was the change his idealism needed to enter the war.

30. Declaration of War • A resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare in 1917 convinced American leaders that war with Germany was the only option. • Other factors, such as suspicions of German involvement with Mexico (via the Zimmermann Telegram), solidified popular opinion against Germany. • This excerpt is from Wilson's war message to Congress. • "I have called the Congress into extraordinary session because there are serious, very serious, choices of policy to be made, and made immediately, which it was neither right nor constitutionally permissible that I should assume the responsibility of making. . . . The present German submarine warfare against commerce is a warfare against mankind."

31. Nails in the Coffin for American Neutrality • Little Nail – Propaganda about German atrocities in Belgium • Big Nail One – Sinking of Lusitania • Big Nail Two – German Announcement of Unrestricted Submarine warfare • Big Nail Three – Zimmerman Note • Big Nail Four – Russian Revolution