BELLWORK 1. Describe Wilsons policy of Moral Diplomacy. 2. How was Moral Diplomacy different from the policies of the other Progressive presidents, Roosevelt & Taft? 3. Evaluate the strengths & weaknesses of Moral Diplomacy. Do you think this policy was effective? 4. THINKER: Do you think its possible for a superpower like the U.S. to be neutral during WWI? Are there any situations (modern or past) in which you feel the U.S. should remain neutral?

U.S. Involvement in WWI From neutrality to WAR!

Woodrow Wilson Nickname: The School Master because he was the most educated President. Nickname: The School Master because he was the most educated President. Despite his cold exterior, Wilson wrote 1,000s of sexy love letters to his wife, and frequently visited a woman in Bermuda Despite his cold exterior, Wilson wrote 1,000s of sexy love letters to his wife, and frequently visited a woman in Bermuda In 1919 Wilson suffered a stroke, his wife Edith was the gatekeeper during his recovery (first female president?) In 1919 Wilson suffered a stroke, his wife Edith was the gatekeeper during his recovery (first female president?)

President Wilson on U.S. neutrality: President Wilson on U.S. neutrality: We must be impartial in thought, as well as, action!We must be impartial in thought, as well as, action!

U.S. NEUTRALITY In August 1914, Wilson officially declared the U.S. neutral. In August 1914, Wilson officially declared the U.S. neutral. Although neutral, the U.S. was secretly giving food and supplies to the Allies and loaned them $2.25 billion. Although neutral, the U.S. was secretly giving food and supplies to the Allies and loaned them $2.25 billion. Wilson was reelected in 1916 with the slogan, HE KEPT US OUT OF WAR! Wilson was reelected in 1916 with the slogan, HE KEPT US OUT OF WAR!

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

1914 trade w/Britain $743 million 1914 trade w/Britain $743 million 1914 trade w/Germany $345 million 1914 trade w/Germany $345 million 1916 trade w/Britain $3 billion 1916 trade w/Britain $3 billion 1916 trade w/Germany $29 million 1916 trade w/Germany $29 million Loans to Britain $2.3 Billion Loans to Britain $2.3 Billion Loans to Germany $27 million Loans to Germany $27 million

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

"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 To summarize Germany WILL be held responsible for loss of American ships or American lives!!!! To summarize Germany WILL be held responsible for loss of American ships or American lives!!!!

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

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

Change in German War Strategy On Christmas Day 1915, Falkenhayn (German Chief of Staff) wrote a letter to Kaiser Wilhelm (leader of Germany) to redirect the war strategy. Falkenhayn argued that the key to winning the war lay not on the Eastern Front, against Russia – whom he believed was on the point of revolution and subsequent withdrawal from the war – but on the Western Front. He reasoned that if France could be defeated in a major battle Britain would in all likelihood seek terms with Germany, or else be defeated in turn. He believed that Britain formed the foundation of the Allied effort ranged against Germany and that she must be removed from the war. To that end he recommended implementation of a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare against merchant shipping, a policy directed squarely at starving Britain.

Closer to War Allies suffer major losses and beg the U.S. for help. Allies suffer major losses and beg the U.S. for help. Germany announces an unrestricted submarine campaign Germany announces an unrestricted submarine campaign Germans sink U.S. supply ships City of Memphis, Illinois, and Vigilante. Germans sink U.S. supply ships City of Memphis, Illinois, and Vigilante – Congress expands Army, National Guard, and Navy. (mobilization) 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 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

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

Presidential Address to the Senate Even after the Zimmerman Telegram Wilson was still reluctant to declare war. 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, In an effort to justify neutrality he held a meeting with the Senate on January 22, 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. 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. For the rest of class (potentially homework) you are going to read Wilsons Address to the Senate and analyze: For the rest of class (potentially homework) you are going to read Wilsons Address to the Senate and analyze: OPVL OPVL Summary of his important points (link to Moral Diplomacy and U.S. neutrality) Summary of his important points (link to Moral Diplomacy and U.S. neutrality) Your personal response (is compromise possible? Do you agree with Wilsons decisions?) Your personal response (is compromise possible? Do you agree with Wilsons decisions?)