US: From Neutrality to War
A. US Public Opinion
1. Anti-War?
– At first many Americans
thought of the war as a
European War
– Popular song at the time
– “I didn’t raise my boy
to be a Soldier”
2. Allied or Central Powers
– Most Americans supported the British and the
French b/c of long standing ties
– But Millions of Americans had immigrated from
the Central Powers and supported them.
B. Propaganda
1. British Propaganda
– Used to influence U.S.
Opinion
– Depicted the Germans as
cruel and inhumane
2. German Propaganda
– Depicted President Wilson
as a liar when it came to
Neutrality
C. Germans Violate US Neutrality
1. Sinking the Lusitania
– German U-boats (Submarines) attacked many
ships without warning instead of stopping and
searching them
– May 1915 a U-Boat sank a British Passenger Ship,
Lusitania
– Killed 1,200 people, included 128 Americans
– Infuriates Americans
2. Sussex Pledge
– After sinking a French Ship, the Sussex, German
govt issues the Sussex Pledge
– Promise not to sink merchant vessels w/o warning
or saving lives
– Does not follow the pledge for very long
3. Zimmerman Note
– German Foreign Minister
Arthur Zimmerman
– Telegram asked Mexico to ally
with Germany against the US
– They could retake New
Mexico, Texas and Arizona
4. Wilson’s Response to German aggression
– April 1917 Wilson Asks Congress to declare war on
Germany
– “The world must be made safe for Democracy”
– April 6, 1917 U.S. Declares War on Germany