7.5 World War I: Military and Diplomacy

LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Explain the causes and consequences of US involvement in World War 1

INTRODUCTION

• WW1 broke out after Archduke Francis Ferdinand was assassinated

  • Austria-Hungary & Germany were in a full-scale war w Russia, France, & Great Britian

• Main causes were:

  • Militarism

  • Alliances

  • Imperialism

  • Nationalism

NEUTRALITY

• President Wilsons first response was declaration of US neutrality

  • Wilson found it difficult to steer neutral course that favored neither

    - wanted to continue protect US trading rights

    - US moved through a wide range of roles (neutral>war>world power)

FREEDOM OF THE SEAS

• Belligerent powers tried to stop supplies (caused trouble for the US)

  • Great Britian was first to declare blockade against Germany

    - seized ships (including US ships) attempting to run blockade

    - WIlson view seizures as violation to neutrality & freedom to seas

SUMBMARINE WARFARE

• Germanys hoped to challenge British with the submarine

  • Answered British blockade by announcing blockade of its own

    - warned against ships entering ¨war zone¨

LUSITANIA CRISIS

• First major crisis challenging US neutrality

  • German torpedos hit & sank British passenger ship (Lusitania)

    - passengers were killed (including 128 Americans)

    - Wilson sent diplomatic message warning Germany against their sinking of unarmed ships

    - William Jennings Bryan objected message & resigned (too warlike)

OTHER SINKINGS

• Two Americans lost their lives at sea due to German submarines (The Arabic)

  • Wilsons note of protest prevailed upon German government

    - no unarmed passenger ships would be sunk without warning

    - allowed passengers to get into lifeboats

  • Germany ended up attacked unarmed merchant ship (the Sussex)

    - injured several American passengers

    - Wilson cut diplomatic realtions w Germany (step closer to war)

    -