AMERICA’S ROAD TO WAR
Sec. 23-2 Pages 671-676
Define: Propaganda – autocracy –
unrestricted submarine warfare
Identify: Sinking of Lusitania – Zimmerman telegram –
Bolshevik Revolution – Vladimir Lenin – Selective
Service Act
Explain how the US was being drawn into the war – US
neutrality – Germans begin unrestricted submarine
warfare –British intercept Zimmerman telegram – Russian
revolution – US declares war
US AND THE WAR
• Pres. Wilson wanted US to
remain neutral
• One third (1/3) of American
population had foreign –born
parents. Overwhelming majority
supported Triple Entente nations
or Allies – common language,
government and culture
• Trading with Britain and France
was twice that of Germany.
America will gain economically
during the war.
US AND THE WAR
• Propaganda – Information designed to influence
opinions
• Many were against Kaiser Wilhelm- “bully” of
Europe – aggressive attacks on Belgium – killed
women and children, ruined cathedrals, libraries
and hospitals
• America sent supplies to both sides, but Britain
searched American ships headed for German
ports – seized ships’ goods.
• Britain and France borrowed billions from US to
help for their war needs.
• Germany angry – saw US as helping Allies.
SUMMARIZE
• What vocab word means information designed
to influence opinions?
• Who was the German leader known for
aggressive attacks on Belgium?
• The US kept trading with which two European
countries? What country resented this?
• Which country searched US ships at this time?
WAR ON THE ATLANTIC
• British navy was stronger than
Germany’s – tried to block all
northern European ports to keep
Germany from getting supplies
• Germans used U-boats (untersee)
to keep supplies from getting to
British troops – stopped unarmed
merchant marine vessels
• Both sides stopped neutral
nations’ ships –
• US angered by this action –
announced Germany would be
held responsible for American
property or lives lost.
LUSITANIA
• British ship sunk on May 7, 1915.
Over 1200 people went down with
ship (128 Americans)
• Germany claimed Lusitania was
carrying arms-war vessel. British
denied this – later proved true.
Cries from Americans condemned
the war.
• Pres. Wilson tried to remain neutral
– began negotiating for reparations
( war damages) with Germany.
Germany promised to abide by
international rules of naval warfare
– will only attack ships involved in
war – carrying weapons
SUSSEX
• Mar. 1916 – French ship torpedoed –
killing/wounding 80 passengers. Pres. Wilson
declares American rights must be protected.
• If US could not persuade Britain to lift the
blockade against food and fertilizers, Germany
would renew unrestricted submarine warfare.
• Sussex Pledge- Germany promised to warn
neutral ships and passenger vessels before
attacking.
ELECTION OF 1916
• Dem. Woodrow Wilson – slogan “He kept us out
of war” – would win 2nd term
• Rep. Charles E. Hughes – Sup. Crt. Chief Justice
Promised he would not be too severe on
Germany.
• US had doubled army and built new warships in
1916. Antiwar sentiment was strong but events
will soon pull US into war.
SUMMARIZE
• This British ship was sunk in May 1915 with
over 120 Americans on board.
• What reason did Germany give for sinking this
ship?
• What vocab term means money for war
damages?
• What was the Sussex Pledge?
• What two candidates ran in election of 1916?
ZIMMERMANN TELEGRAM
• Jan. 31, 1917 – Kaiser Wilhelm II announced that
Germany would resume unrestricted submarine warfare
on any ships ( hostile or neutral) in British waters.
• US broke off diplomatic relations with Germany
• Arthur Zimmermann, Germ. For. Minister, sent note to
Germ. Ambassador in Mexico. Note intercepted by
British, deciphered (decoded) and info given to US.
• Telegram suggested an alliance between Mexico and
Germany – if war with US broke out, Mexico would join
Germany’s side. In return, Germany would help Mexico
“recover Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
• Britain anxious to gain US as ally – needed more troops
and supplies
BOLSHEVIK REVOLUTION
• Mar. 1917- Russians overthrow
the repressive czarist government
under Czar Nicholas II
• Replaced with representative
gov’t under soviet group.
• Germany helps Vladamir Lenin
return to Russia and seize power.
• Autocracy – gov’t ruled by one
person with unlimited power
• Lenin’s slogan “Peace, land,
bread” won support of poor
Russian peasants. Lenin blamed
war on capitalism.
• Bolsheviks seized power in St.
Petersburg on Oct. 1917.
BOLSHEVIK REVOLUTION
• Gov’t ordered all farmland to be
divided among the peasants.
• Truce signed with Germany
• Workers’ council would run
factories
• Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (Russia &
Germany) Germany would gain
large amounts of coal mines and
land (Finland, Poland, Ukraine
and Baltic states) – Russia will
withdraw from war in 1918.
US DECLARES WAR
• Apr. 2,1917 – Pres. Wilson addresses Congress
“War of democracies against brutal monarchies”
“The world must be made safe for democracy”
• May 1918 – Congress passes Selective Service Act –
US established a military draft
• Men (21-30) registered – called to serve – women
enlisted into non-combat areas (radio operators,
clerks, nurses)
• Over 300,000 African-Americans joined – only
40,000 will see combat.
Henry Johnson – 1st African-American to receive
French cross of war medal for bravery.
SUMMARIZE
• What was unrestricted submarine warfare?
• Which country began using this in 1917?
• What country did Germ.For. Minister suggest to
ally? What was the agreement?
• What group overthrew Czar Nicholas II?
• What leader did Germany help gain power in
Russia? What was his slogan?
• What was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
• What law started the US military draft?