US
INVOLVEMENT
IN WWI
A brief visual of US in
WWI
WHAT CAUSED
WWI ?
•
War broke out when AustriaHungary declared war on Serbia
•
Reason behind declaring war is
due to the assassination of their
heir Archduke
•
Europe breaks up into pieces and
splits into allies and central
powers
THE START
•
The US declares neutrality against the war in
Europe
•
Germany makes its first move by moving
troops through neutral Belgium to France, by
promising to not attack Belgium. Paris is
barely saved by the miraculous victory of
"Marne River"
•
This war presented great opportunities for the
American businesses as demand was high and
supply was rich due to the current
industrialization pace.
•
The use of trenches became clear and
diseases spread throughout the man-built
tunnels
ENGLAND
REACTS
As time passed, England noticed
American high amount of trade to
the Central Powers causing them
to take strict actions against the
trade by causing a blockade and
supplying all routes towards them
To prevent England from a
depression, US funded high
amounts of loan to England
showcasing a direct interest
towards them
•
As Central Powers gain stance
towards the war, England
persuades US to join the war due
to their strong relationship.
•
While US still decides to pursue
their policy of isolationism,
they agree to help England
with funds and agree on issuing
the House-Grey Memorandum,
which states that if Central
Powers don't agree on
peace when called by the Allies,
US would join the war
ALLIES LOSE POSITION
UNRESTRICTED SUBMARINE
WARFARE
By 1915, Germany had already started their
unrestricted submarine warfare as they attack
merchant and non-merchant ships alike
Lusitania was sank by a German U-boat, which
killed many Americans and became the first
major casualty of Americans during the war.
Germany got away by apologizing and by issuing
the Sussex Pledge
NEUTRAL PER
LAW; UNNEUTRAL
PER SPIRIT
•
Even though Wilson wanted to remain
neutral, as it won him the second
election "He kept us out of war!", he
knew this would become increasingly
difficult as the war took its turns and
started preparing two years before they
got involved.
•
The transactions he sent towards the
allies were "legal" in terms, but he
himself stated that they were
"inconsistent with a neutral spirit"
suggesting his side towards the war
GERMANY GETS
ANXIOUS
•
As the tide of the war starts turning
towards the Allies, Germany gets anxious
and starts their unrestricted warfare in
sea again, which broke many pledges, but
they gambled their way that they might
be able to win the war before US got
involved
•
Rising cases of sunken ships, and the
Zimmerman Note caused Wilson to make
a decision
US ENTERS
THE WAR
•
President Wilson issues a direct
request with Congress to permit
US going to the war with his
"Fourteen Points" request and
gets their approval.
•
D-day and other major victories
impacted by American definitely
turned the tide of the war again
to the Allies favor and finally won
them the war
OTHER EVENTS DURING THIS TIME
•
While WWI was a big disaster, it helped the US
become an economical and industrial
superpower and placed the US on the world
stage
•
During this time major changes happened in
civil rights back at the home front, as women
get their right to vote (women suffrage).
•
During the War, we also saw a new element
which highly increased pressure and tension of
the public and took their attention, propaganda.
PREPARATION
FOR WWII
While in this gruesome times, the United
States maintained a great wartime economy
that lead to riches in the Roaring Twenties,
and also achieved great military advances
which paved the way for World War II, along
with the treaties and relationships formed
with Europe helped US come out of the
Isolationism stance, by proposing to create
the League of nations, which unfortunately
the Congress didn't ratify and caused US to go
back to isolationism, but WWI still caused to
create enough relationships that would be
helpful in the upcoming war.
Curated by Akshat S
THANK YOU