The United States in World War I “Oh, no you di-int!”

Isolationism The United States foreign policy between the American Civil War and World War I was one of isolationism Non-involvement in the actions of decisions of other nations of the world Particularly not getting trapped in European entanglements A time of great economic and political prosperity for the nation Rapidly growing economy Industrial revolution Growth into a world power

United States Neutrality Most people in American supported the Allied Cause, and thought the Central Powers the aggressors in the conflict Allies: Great Britain, France, Serbia, Russia Central Powers: Austria-Hungary, Germany American sentiment was divided in some areas Irish Americans did not want to aide Great Britain, whom the considered an oppressor of their home land German Americans did not want to go to war against their own homeland President Wilson was firm in his resolve to have the United States remain neutral

President Woodrow Wilson Staunch anti-involvement policy Maintain business relationships with both sides Didn’t want to anger any groups of Americans by choosing sides. Used his platform as a powerful world leader to try and broker peace Each side in the conflict was so certain of victory, Wilson’s peace proposals were ignored

Sinking of RMS Lusitania RMS Lusitania was a British trans-Atlantic passenger liner Passenger ships were initially protected from U-Boat Warfare The Allies began to use passenger ships to carry weapons and ammunition since they couldn’t be torpedoed The RMS Lusitania

Sinking of the RMS Lusitania Lusitania was torpedoed on May 7, 1915 by the German U-Boat U20 The British were arming passenger vessels in order to lure U-Boats to the surface to attack them U-Boats then began to sink everything Passengers were warned to board at their own risk On board the Lusitania were 128 American citizens The wreckage of the RMS Lusitania beneath 300 feet of water off the coast of Ireland

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFutCXyuqaM

Reaction 1198 people were killed, including the 128 American passengers American citizens were outraged, and anti-German sentiment began to grow President Wilson wanted the United States to remain neutral in spite of the attack “America is too proud to fight” Wilson warned the Germans that further unrestricted submarine warfare will not be tolerated Germans halted unrestricted submarine warfare in response to international pressure… for now…

German Foreign Secretary Arthur Zimmerman The Zimmerman Note A telegram sent to the German Ambassador to Mexico Heinrich von Eckhardt by German Foreign Secretary Arthur Zimmerman The telegram contained the command to arrange an agreement with Mexico In return for Mexico’s declaration of war against the United States, Germany would return Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of California to Mexico von Eckhardt was left to sort out the details German Foreign Secretary Arthur Zimmerman

The Zimmerman Note Left: The original telegram sent to the German Ambassador to Mexico Right: The British cryptologists begin the process of decoding

The Zimmerman Note The Zimmerman Note decoded

Mexico’s New Territory Mexican Territory ceded to the United States after the War of 1850 Land promised by Germany for a Mexican declaration of war on the U.S. Mexico

Achtung! Dies ist ein Skandal! Das ist nicht gut! The British were able to decode the message, and soon presented it to the United States Ambassador to Great Britain Ambassador Walter Page was first incredulous, and then enraged President Wilson was then informed, and he released the text to the American people American opinion rapidly changed to favor the Allies A confident Zimmerman, when presented with the evidence, did not deny the arrangement Poor relations between Mexico and the United States also contributed to Americans’ anger The Germans now found themselves with an angry United States as a potential enemy

The United States has no choice War is declared after the resumption of unrestricted U-Boat Warfare The Germans were warned after the sinking of the Lusitania The Zimmerman offer was tremendous insult, and could never have worked The Mexicans didn’t believe that the Germans could pay up There was no upside in declaring war on America The United States officially enters The Great War on the side of the Allies on April 6, 1917 General John J. “Black Jack” Pershing, Commander of all U.S. Forces in World War I