European Reasons for War Nationalism: ethnic groups believed that they should have their own nations, not be part of another country Internal Dissent: problems within the country made leaders look for uniting their people Militarism: large armies with lots of weapons System of Alliances: countries made treaties with each other, allowing allies to be dragged into war for decades old agreements

U.S. Response Wilson tried to keep the U.S. neutral “We must be impartial in thought as well as in action.”

Americans Take Sides America was home to millions and millions of immigrants from Europe and feelings about American involvement in the war were split Most Americans supported the Allied Forces, but most did not want to do more than lend money to other countries

British Blockades Britain declared a blockade on Germany ships to keep supplies from making it to their enemy Germany in retaliation decided that they would starve the British and French into surrendering by blocking American supplies to the Allies

German U-Boats German begin patrolling the Atlantic Ocean in subs called U-Boats 1915 – announced they would sink any boat in British waters

Lusitania May 7, 1915 – British passenger liner Sunk by the Germans 1200 passengers, 128 Americans killed

Sussex Pledge Germany promised to sink no more merchant ships Germany does not want to draw the US into the war and strengthen the Allies

The Decision to Enter the War Germany abandoned the Sussex Pledge – Desire to crush Britain before the US entered the war – Wilson severed diplomatic relations with Germany Wilson asked Congress to arm U.S. merchant ships Germany abandoned the Sussex Pledge – Desire to crush Britain before the US entered the war – Wilson severed diplomatic relations with Germany Wilson asked Congress to arm U.S. merchant ships

The Zimmerman Note

The Final Straws Sinking of 4 unarmed American ships Revolution in Russia 4/2/1917: Wilson asks Congress for a declaration of war and the U.S. joins the war on the side of the Allies.

Fourteen Points Speech January 8, 1918 Eliminate secret treaties Freedom of the seas Autonomy for ethnic minorities Arms reduction League of Nations January 8, 1918 Eliminate secret treaties Freedom of the seas Autonomy for ethnic minorities Arms reduction League of Nations

Selling the War at Home Committee on Public Information – George Creel Patriotic Songs Retooling the American economy Opportunities and restrictions Committee on Public Information – George Creel Patriotic Songs Retooling the American economy Opportunities and restrictions

Doughboys “Over There” Russian political instability increased urgency for American involvement – Chateau Thierry Meuse-Argonne offensive Russian political instability increased urgency for American involvement – Chateau Thierry Meuse-Argonne offensive

Trench Warfare

Mechanized Warfare

Chemical Warfare

Wilson Goes to Versailles End of “politics is adjourned” Narrow Republican victory in Congress Republicans angered by Wilson’s decision to go to Versailles – Delegation did not include republican senators – Opposition by Henry Cabot Lodge End of “politics is adjourned” Narrow Republican victory in Congress Republicans angered by Wilson’s decision to go to Versailles – Delegation did not include republican senators – Opposition by Henry Cabot Lodge

Differing Goals Big Four – Different agendas Wilson’s League of Nations was opposed at home by the irreconcilables – 39 Republican senators Compromise and the Treaty of Versailles Big Four – Different agendas Wilson’s League of Nations was opposed at home by the irreconcilables – 39 Republican senators Compromise and the Treaty of Versailles

Returning Home Isolationists opposed the “entangling alliances” Anti-German sentiment felt the treaty was not harsh enough German Americans and other immigrants felt the treaty did not favor their homelands enough Irish-Americans feared growing British power Isolationists opposed the “entangling alliances” Anti-German sentiment felt the treaty was not harsh enough German Americans and other immigrants felt the treaty did not favor their homelands enough Irish-Americans feared growing British power

Sen. Lodge’s Opposition Sen. Lodge sought to “Rebuplicanize, Americanize or Senatorialize” the treaty Used delay and obfuscation A frustrated Wilson decided to appeal directly to the American public Sen. Lodge sought to “Rebuplicanize, Americanize or Senatorialize” the treaty Used delay and obfuscation A frustrated Wilson decided to appeal directly to the American public

Wilson’s Tour Strenuous tour Wilson’s precarious health Tour was building momentum when Wilson collapsed Strenuous tour Wilson’s precarious health Tour was building momentum when Wilson collapsed

Defeat of the Treaty Lodge’s Fourteen reservations – Preserve American sphere of influence and autonomy – Wilson called on democrats to vote against the treaty with the reservations attached It was rejected twice Lodge’s Fourteen reservations – Preserve American sphere of influence and autonomy – Wilson called on democrats to vote against the treaty with the reservations attached It was rejected twice

America in WWI Entering World War I in response to Germany’s unrestricted submarine warfare, Wilson turned America’s participation into a fervent ideological crusade for democracy that successfully stirred the public to a great voluntary war effort, but at some cost to traditional civil liberties

America in WWI After America’s limited but important contributions to the Allied victory, a triumphant Wilson attempted to construct a peace based on his idealistic Fourteen Points. But European and senatorial opposition, and especially his own political errors, doomed American ratification of the Versailles Treaty and participation in the League of Nations.