11.18.15
Review of WW 1 documents (Outbreak of WW1 handout)
Document A-Lusitania sunk (NY Times)-it was a passenger ship, but it was carrying medical supplies to EnglandThis did not push us into the war, as the only cause-one of 8 reasons we go to war
Document B- Zimmerman Telegram, from Germany to Mexico-wanting Mexico to invade US-that would help
Germany because it would keep America busy, and out of the war-and then they can come in and kick our butts-they
said that the land we took from Mexico would be returned. Intercepted by Great Britain and Britain is concerned
because they want our help in the war
Germany is agitating the US, trying to bring us into the war-many in America still saying not yet, pulling us in
Document C
US War Loans 1914-7
Peace on Uncle Sam’s front, on back, it says “we’re selling war ammo”-we say we’re neutral, $2,250 million to
Allied Powers, and $27 million to Central Powers WE ARE NOT NEUTRAL
Document D-chart “US losses to German Submarine Warfare, 1916-18”
Line showing tonnage of vessels sunk, spikes and valleys-early, we see little activity, then we cut off enemy supplies
and we see an increase in sinkings
In 1917, we see a significant drop, the US is negotiating with Germany for restricted sub warfare-US says “you
cannot keep killing innocent people, and you need to restrict sub warfare”-but US is still supplying allies so it goes
back up, the US declares war, and the # drops and US is mobilizing for war, stop sending supplies to allies, because
they need the supplies
At the end, 1918, we see a big spike, because it’s toward the end and the Germans are really bombing our boats
Unrestricted submarine warfare
Document E- a piece of propaganda saying a German officer kills a family, with a cartoon of a family hanging on
a bayonet-to make the Germans look bad-making the Germans looking like baby killers-Germans are heartless,
sick, and Americans need to stop them from killing babies
Document F President Wilson’s War Message, 1917,
“The World must be made safe for democracy”
Document G-a cartoon illustrating President Wilson writing his war message
He is changing the date because he is going to war regardless-it’s inevitable due to unrestricted sub warfare
Document H
Who makes money off war-the stock gamblers of wall street-munitions, bonds profits