1. Question?  What does it mean to be neutral “in fact, as well as name”?

2. American Isolationism  George Washington Refused to take sides between England & France, 1793 Refused to take sides between England & France, 1793 Urged US to remain neutral Urged US to remain neutral  US interventionist in Latin America, but neutral in Europe

3. Reaction to War  War breaks out in Europe in 1914  Many in US have conflicted loyalties Close cultural and economic ties to Britain Close cultural and economic ties to Britain Large population of Germans and other Europeans Large population of Germans and other Europeans

5. Problems with Neutrality  Trade

8. Problems with Neutrality  Immigrants Suspicion of German immigrants in particular Suspicion of German immigrants in particular  Some pro-war sentiment Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt  Secretary of State, William Jennings Bryan keeps pressing for neutrality

9. German Submarine Warfare

10. Warning to Passengers Notice! Travellers intending to embark on the Atlantic voyage are reminded that a state of war exists between Germany and her allies and Great Britain and her allies; that the zone of war includes the waters adjacent to the British Isles; that, in accordance with formal notice given by the Imperial German Government, vessels flying the flag of Great Britain, or any of her allies, are liable to destruction in those waters and that travellers sailing in the war zone on ships of Great Britain or her allies do so at their own risk. Imperial German Embassy Washington, D. C., April 22, 1915

11. RMS Lusitania May 7, 1915  Passenger ship  Sunk May 7, 1915  Over 1,200 people dead 128 Americans  US outraged

12. Fallout  US protests German strategy  Threatens to end diplomatic relations  Secretary of State, William Jennings Bryan, resigns  Germany on notice Arabic Pledge Arabic Pledge

13. Sussex Pledge  In March 1916 Germans torpedoed the Sussex, a French passenger ferry  25 Americans injuries  Germans agree to end targeting civilian shipping

14. Election of 1916  Woodrow Wilson (Democrat)  Charles Evan Hughes (Republican)  Wilson’s campaign: “He kept us out of the war!” “He kept us out of the war!”

15. 1916 Election Results

16. Zimmerman Telegram  January 1917, Letter from Germany to Mexico  British intercept and hand to US  Uproar!  Wilson’s “Peace Without Victory” Speech

17. War!  Germany increasingly desperate  February 1, 1917 Announces resumption of unrestricted warfare Announces resumption of unrestricted warfare  April 2, 1917 Wilson asks for Declaration of War Wilson asks for Declaration of War