01:512:104 Lecture Notes - Lecture 23: Zimmermann Telegram, Passenger Ship, Teller Amendment
13 May 2018
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Chapter 23 - Americans in the Great War, 1914-1920
I. Introduction
As the war began, America declared its neutrality. When events drew the
nation into the contest, Woodrow Wilson announced that the country would
fight to make the world safe for democracy.
II. Precarious Neutrality
A. Outbreak of the First World War
The war began following the assassination of the heir to the
Austro?Hungarian throne.
B. Taking Sides
Wilson sought to maintain neutrality, but objections came from
German?Americans and Irish?Americans. Wilson’s administration had
considerable sympathy for the Allies, providing another impediment to
neutrality.
C. Trade and Loans
American economic ties to the Allies, especially commercially and financially,
made neutrality difficult.
D. Wilsonianism
Wilson believed that the United States had become the only nation that could
lead the world into a new, peaceful era. British victory seemed crucial to these
principles.
E. British Violations of Neutral Rights
Britain used its navy in an effort to sever all neutral trade with Germany and
cripple the German economy.
F. The German Submarine and International Law
German naval tactics relied on submarines. Wilson interpreted international
law to insist that submarines surface before firing on ships. Germany
disagreed.
III. Submarine Warfare and Wilson’s Decision for War
A. Secretary Bryan’s Resignation
When 128 Americans died on the British passenger ship Lusitania, Wilson
resisted calls for war. Still, he wanted Americans to be safe to travel on
belligerent craft. When Wilson rejected Secretary of State William Jennings
Bryan’s advice that Americans be prohibited from travel on belligerent ships,
Bryan resigned.
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B. Gore?McLemore Resolution
A congressional resolution would have prohibited Americans from traveling on
belligerent merchant ships, but Wilson’s pressure caused the resolution to fail.
C. Peace Advocates
A strong peace movement existed in the United States because many
believed that business profited from war.
D. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
In February 1917, Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare. The
Germans hoped to defeat Britain before American troops could enter the war.
E. Zimmermann Telegram and Mexican Revolution
When British intelligence released the Zimmermann Telegram, Americans
took the threat from Germany seriously because of deteriorating relations with
Mexico.
F. War Message and War Declaration
Wilson asked for war because of German violations of freedom of the seas
and assaults on human rights. He wanted to make the world “safe for
democracy.”
IV. Taking Up Arms and Winning the War
A. The Draft and the Soldier
Congress passed the Selective Service Act that made all men between 20
and 30 subject to the draft. Most soldiers were draftees, in their early twenties,
and poorly educated. Blacks, at the urging of the NAACP, joined in the U.S.
war effort.
B. Indian Enlistees
Most of the 15,000 Native Americans who served sought to escape lives of
poverty and prove their patriotism.
C. Commission on Training Camp Activities
A federal commission, established out of concern over saloons and brothels
near training camps, coordinated efforts to provide alternative forms of
entertainment.
D. Trench Warfare
The nature of World War I combat was marked by a futile stalemate in the
trenches.
E. Problem of Venereal Disease
The high prostitution rates in France helped make venereal disease a serious
problem for American troops.
F. AEF Battles in France
The American Expeditionary Force remained independent from the Allied
forces, but when they entered the lines they tipped the balance of the war in
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Document Summary
Chapter 23 - americans in the great war, 1914-1920: introduction. As the war began, america declared its neutrality. When events drew the nation into the contest, woodrow wilson announced that the country would fight to make the world safe for democracy. Precarious neutrality: outbreak of the first world war. The war began following the assassination of the heir to the. Wilson sought to maintain neutrality, but objections came from. Wilson"s administration had considerable sympathy for the allies, providing another impediment to neutrality: trade and loans. American economic ties to the allies, especially commercially and financially, made neutrality difficult: wilsonianism. Wilson believed that the united states had become the only nation that could lead the world into a new, peaceful era. British victory seemed crucial to these principles: british violations of neutral rights. Britain used its navy in an effort to sever all neutral trade with germany and cripple the german economy: the german submarine and international law.
