Chapter 36 Over There: The United States and the First World War 1914–1918

Wilson, the World, and Mexico Wilson’s moral diplomacy Criticizes Roosevelt gunboat diplomacy Criticizes Taft’s dollar diplomacy Influenced by Christian pacifism Believes in negotiation, not war Wilson: the missionary Had Southern prejudices Wanted to prescribe good behavior Ordered Marines into Haiti

Wilson, the World, and Mexico Wilson, the World, and Mexico (cont.’d) Mexican civil war erupts U.S. sent troops at Vera Cruz to avenge insulted American honor Even U.S.-supported Carranza condemns U.S. U.S. and Mexico barely avoid war Pancho Villa attacks Americans Raids into U.S. Carranza offers to capture Villa Wilson sends troops into Mexico instead John J. Pershing Villa outwits American military

The Great War Towards war Assassination of Franz Ferdinand Arms race, nationalism, alliances escalate war Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey Allied Powers: Britain, France, Russia (later Italy) American reaction Respond with disbelief and disgust Believe U.S. above such savagery Wilson declares U.S. neutral Most agree with neutral stance

The Great War The Great War (cont.’d) Sympathy with the Allies Many see Britain as motherland U.S. business interest with Allies France helped U.S. in revolution Sympathy for the Central Powers Many descendants of Germany, Austria Many Irish hate Great Britain Jews remember Russian cruelty

The Great War The Great War (cont.’d) Stalemate Germany’s Schlieffen Plan Plan fails due to Belgian resistance Germans stop Russia at Tannenberg Stalemate at Western Front New technology of killing Airplane, mustard gas, tanks new weapons Machine guns make biggest difference Attack into machine fire leads to high casualties Tanks introduced

The Great War The Great War (cont.’d) War at Sea Main purpose economic Britain blockades Germany Americans rely little on German trade Germany gets new weapon: U-boat British Isle waters become war zoned Do not guarantee neutral ships’ safety Submarines must strike without warning American lives lost aboard Lusitania 1,198 killed Carried 4,200 cases of small arms Germans did not stop unrestricted submarine warfare Germans wanted to keep U.S. out of war Germans sank Sussex, made Sussex Pledge

America Goes to War War potentially inevitable Wilson begins military buildup Some Congressional critics hold back Wilson settles for compromise Election of 1916 Wilson: “He kept us out of the war” Republicans run Charles Evans Hughes Roosevelt labels Republicans as pro-war Wilson wins with narrow margin

America Goes to War America Goes to War (cont.’d) Wilson attempts “peace without victory” Germans resume unrestricted submarine warfare Germans: defeat Britain before U.S. mobilizes U.S. Congress declares war Economics part of reasoning

American Goes to War American Goes to War (cont.’d) Hun and his Kultur Americans perceive Germans as barbaric “Rape of Belgium” creates evil image British propaganda German saboteurs create suspicion Zimmerman telegram in 1917 American contribution Germans winning in early 1917 Allies provide navy escort for merchant ships Allies set up convoy for crossing Atlantic Submarine warfare loses effectiveness

American Goes to War American Goes to War (cont.’d) Over there John Pershing keeps U.S. troops separate Russia pulls out of war; hurts Allies By Spring 1918 Allies winning Chateau-Thierry Germans surrender November 11, 1918 Armistice Americans celebrate American sacrifice minor compared to other Allies

Discussion Questions Examine Wilson’s dealings with Mexico. Why did the United states end up sending forces into Mexico? How was the situation finally resolved What were the causes of the Great War? Was this war inevitable? Was the United States truly a neutral power during the start of the Great War? What influence did our position have on the war? What factors brought America into the Great War? Why did we join the side of the Allies? Did we ultimately save Europe, or make things worse?