“The War to End All Wars” “The Great War” “The War to End All Wars”

Germany’s Plan 1) Schlieffen Plan - Intended to go around French defenses by sweeping through Belgium and then wheeling to the south and east to crush the French troops against the forts in Lorrain. (Revolving Door) General Alfred Von Schlieffen

War at Sea * The Schlieffen Plan fails and a stalemate ensues. 1) British impose a strict BLOCKADE - This was meant to starve out the enemy regardless of international law. There was a difference between war supplies and food under international law but it was ignored by the British. (Is there a difference?) 2) Germany responds with submarine warfare - Waters were declared war zones. - NEUTRAL ships became unsafe. - Sinking NEUTRAL ships was looked upon as more offensive than the British Blockade.

United States Policy Towards War 1914 – American public firmly opposed to intervention in a European War. - Wilson re-elected in 1916 running on a NON-INTERVENTION platform. - HOWEVER, after the outbreak of war the U.S. pursued a neutrality that favored the Allies. This made it so the U.S. became increasingly tied to an Allied victory. HOW? WHY?

United States Policy Towards War Economics - During the first two years of the war the U.S. had a business recession and unemployment reached approx. 15%. - Economic recovery became dependent on sales of war materials to the Allies. - Allies took out loans with American Banks = good financial sense for the U.S. to see Allies win. Allies would need victory to pay off war debts to U.S. IS THIS NETURALITY?

United States Policy Towards War German Submarine Warfare - U.S. officials asserted the doctrine of neutral rights for American ships. - Germany relied on their submarine fleet to break the British blockade and strangle Britain economically. Believed the could defeated Britain in six months if they were successful. - Attacked ships of great Britain and ships headed to Great Britain. - German subs often fired on neutral ships without firing a warning as required by international laws.

United States Policy Towards War Sinking of the Lusitania: May 7, 1915 - German submarine sank the British passenger liner Lusitania off the Irish coast with a loss of 1,198 lives, including 128 U.S. citizens. - Technically, the ship was a legitimate target, because it carried 4,200 cases of AMMUNITION and traveled through a declared war zone. - Much of the American public was outraged and public opinion began to turn against Germany. (Propaganda)

United States Policy Towards War The Zimmerman Note - Arthur Zimmerman, a German official, sent a telegram to the German ambassador in Mexico asking him to make an offer to the MEXICAN Government. - If Mexico agreed to become an ally with Germany in the war against the U.S., Germany promised Mexico would regain its “lost TERRITORY in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona” after the war. - British intelligence intercepted the message and shortly after it was leaked to the U.S. press. This infuriated Americans and helped push the country to war.

United States Policy Towards War United States Declares War: April 6, 1917 - February 1917 Germany resumed unrestricted Submarine warfare. (Had lessened after sinking of the Lusitania.) - Wilson declared, “Warfare against commerce,” equals “warfare against mankind. The world must be made safe for democracy.”