Topic 2: US Neutrality and WWI

How long did WWI last?

4 years. 1914-1918.

What were the Central Powers?

Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire (which is now Turkey)

What were the Allied Powers?

Britain, France, and Russia

When did Woodrow Wilson declare neutrality?

1914

What was case-by-case trade?

The old policy of trade with foreign nations. Each trade offer was evaluated case-by-case. Rejected after Wilson realized they could be accused of bias for it.

What did international law say about trade?

Neutral countries can sell to countries at war. Embargo is illegal. In 1914, Germany admitted traffic in arms was legal.

What are U-boats?

German submarines that targeted Allied and neutral ships travelling to Britain, leading to the sinking of American vessels.

Why did Germany sink US ships?

To stop the US from delivering supplies to Britain. They took a risky gamble, thinking they could win the war before the US could get through to Britain. This didn’t work.

What is the Lusitania?

A large American ship sunk by Germany in 1915, contributing to the shift in US sentiment towards joining the Allies.

When did Lusitania sink & cause change in sentiment favoring the Allies?

1915. US people hate Germans now, so they’re on the Allies’ side. They don’t declare war until 1917, though.

Why did most US citizens favor the Allies?

Mostly because of Britain. We all speak English >_>

Why did Irish Americans support the Central powers?

Defeat England = Ireland gets independence

What were the laws of sea travel during war?

Countries at war can blockade enemy ports and seize cargo classified as “contraband.”

What is unrestricted submarine warfare?

1915 - Germany says they will sink any ships travelling to Britain, even if they are neutral. Wilson rejected a ban on US citizens travelling on cargo ships and continued sending ships to Britain.

Political neutrality

Wilson declares US neutrality in 1914. In 1915, though, Wilson blatantly disregards Germany's warning to stop sending US ships to Britain.

NO political neutrality

Wilson declares war on the Central powers in May 1917.

Economic neutrality

1912-1914

NO economic neutrality :(

1914 onwards: US allows Britain to seize their neutral ships even when they only carried food, because they want the Allies to win and there were no American deaths.

1915-1916: US supplied the Allies with munitions, food, and materials while cutting down on trade with Germany.

How much did US trade with Allies, and how much more was this compared to Central powers?

Trade with the Allies, mainly in munitions, stood at $3.2 billion by 1916. 10x trade with Central Powers.

What happened to US trade with Germany? What % did it change?

Trade with Germany dropped to 1% because British blockaded Germany.

How much money did the US lend to the Allies?

$7 billion by 1918. Allies war debts to US = $10.5 billion.

Ideological neutrality

Wilson says US is neutral. Citizens are explicitly asked to remain impartial when viewing the war.

NO ideological neutrality

Anti-German sentiment became more common as they continued to sink US ships, especially with the Lusitania incident.

What were German saboteurs?

In 1915, US secret service agents discovered a briefcase left on a train by a German agent that suggested they were trying to cause rivalry between the US and Mexico.

Then a munitions plant was blown up and this was also blamed on German saboteurs.

What was the Zimmerman Telegram?

1917 telegram sent by German foreign secretary → German ambassador in Mexico. Tried to persuade Mexico to ally with Germany and go to war against the US, promising to pay for all costs.

What happened to the Zimmerman telegram?

British intelligence intercepted it and handed it to the US ambassador. Wilson authorized it for release to the press in 1917, inflamed public opinion of Germany and gave more reason to go to war.

What happened to Russia during WW1?

Russia was on the side of the Allies. In 1917 their tsarist regime was overthrown and they showed potential for becoming a democracy. This aligned with US ideals, motivating them to give support.

Why were Allies in trouble by 1917?

German U-boats had sunk 1 MILLION tons of Allied shipping. Wilson concerned that Germany would win, dominate Europe and the seas, then threaten Latin America, so he entered the war to prevent this.

What was the European mindset about entering WWI?

Enthusiastic, wanted glory. Thought war would be over by Christmas. Ended up lasting 4 years good grief

What are 4 conditions soldiers faced in WWI?

• trench warfare

• basically stalemate all the time (only 1-2 mile progress in any direction)

• miserable living conditions (trench feet from being in a trench all the time)

• desperation, decreased morale- war was taking way longer than expected

What are 4 weapons invented in WWI?

• cannons to shoot people out of trenches. caused more death. called “industrialization of war”

• MACHINE GUN (kira reference???/). 1 person = power of 40 firemen

• tank to get through barbed wire

• poison gas, and by extension, chemical warfare

• NOT a battle of spirit, NOW a battle of technological innovation

what was the battle that made everyone realize wwi situations were hopeless

Battle of Somne.

Allied soldiers organize massive barrage on Germany, climb out of trenches, try to shoot all of them, end trench warfare. They didn’t get far before Germans started climbing out and shooting back.

outcome of Battle of Somne?

Allies make a grand total of… 5 miles of progress for all their efforts. Costs over a million men. Disillusions some people to war. Defines the futility of WWI.