In 1914, President Wilson advocated for US neutrality in World War I, as the US was not directly involved. However, over the next three years German submarine warfare led to the sinking of American ships and lives, including the Lusitania in 1915. This turned American public opinion against Germany. Despite protests, Germany continued attacks and unrestricted submarine warfare, culminating in the US entering the war in 1917 to "make the world safe for democracy" and join the Allied forces of democratic nations against the Central Powers of monarchies.

1. World War I: From Neutrality to War
Essential Questions:
• What considerations should guide the
development of American foreign policy?
• When should the United States go to war?
• Did America’s emergence as a world
power move it closer or further away from
its founding ideals?

2. President Woodrow
Wilson, August
19, 1914
• Respond: Identify Woodrow Wilson’s position toward
World War I in 1914 by writing ―stay neutral‖ or
―declare war‖ in your notebook. Then identify one or
more phrases that show President Wilson’s position.

3. Europe on the Brink of War
• August 1914: War has just broken out in Europe
involving two great alliances: the Allies
(Britain, France and Russia) on one side, and
the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-
Hungary, and Turkey) on the other. Millions of
soldiers are involved, both on land and at sea.
Before anything happens in the war, you, as
President Wilson, need to establish what the
goals of the United States are. List three goals
for the U.S. to keep in mind as the war
progresses.

4. President
Woodrow Wilson,
April 2, 1917
• Respond: Identify President Woodrow
Wilson’s position toward World War I in 1917
by writing ―stay neutral‖ or ―declare war‖ in
your notebook. Then identify one or more
phrases that show President Wilson’s
position.

5. Respond
• Explain what might have happened in
the three years between the speeches
to change Woodrow Wilson’s position.

6. Europe on the Brink of War
• The Roots of War
– European nationalism
• Aided by each nation’s increased militarism
• Glorification of armed strength and the ideals of war
• In order to acquire and protect their colonies under
imperialism
• Led to the rise of large, sophisticated armies and
navies

7. A. Triple
Entente or
Allies—
France,
Britain, Russia
B. Germany,
Austria-
Hungary,
Ottoman
Empire are
Central
Powers
C. Alliances
give security;
nations
unwilling to tip
balance of
power

8. Europe on the Brink of War
• U.S. Neutrality
– President Woodrow declared neutrality toward Europe
– However, U.S. neutrality was almost immediately
challenged in the summer of 1914, when the situation in
Europe exploded.

9. World War I Begins
• The Assassination of the
Archduke
– Started World War I
– Archduke Francis
Ferdinand, and his wife were
assassinated by a Serbian
nationalist
– Serbia, Austria-Hungary’s tiny
neighbor to the south, opposed
Austria’s control of Bosnia and
desired to join the Slavic
Bosnians to its own nation

10. World War I Begins
• Austria-Hungary-backed by Germany’s promise of full
military support-presented Serbia with a list of
demands concerning inquiry into the crime
• Austria-Hungary wanted Serbia to comply with its
deliberately harsh demands or face war.
• Serbia, knowing it had full Russian support in case of
war, refused to accept all of Austria-Hungary’s
demands.
• After consultation with Germany, Austria-Hungary
declared war on Serbia on July 28.

12. Loans and Exports
• President Wilson allowed
them to warring nations
– Loans had to be short-term
– Brought great prosperity to
the U.S.

13. Britain Preventing Trade with
Germany
• The British Blockade
– British blockade, mine North
Sea, stop war supplies
reaching Germany
• also stop food, fertilizer
• Wilson dropped objections
– U. S. merchant ships seldom
reach Germany
• By 1917, famine in Germany
– British trade was more
important than Germany’s to
the American economy

14. German War Zone Around
Britain
• German response to
the British blockade
• U-boats (German
submarines) would
sink any British or
Allied ship in the
waters around
Britain
• Wilson protests

15. British Liner Lusitania Is Sunk
• Sunk on May 7, 1915 by
German U-Boat
• 1,198 people died
including 128 Americans
• American public opinion
turns against Germany
• President Wilson
protests, but Germany
continues to sink ships

16. Sussex Torpedoed
• Unarmed French passenger
steamer
• 80 passengers, including
Americans are killed
• U.S. threatens to break off
diplomatic relations
• May, 1916- Sussex Pledge-
Germany would not sink any
passenger ships and would
only sink merchant ships with
warning.

17. Zimmerman Telegram
• Zimmerman note—proposes alliance of
Germany, Mexico against U.S.

18. Unrestricted Submarine
Warfare
• Germany asks U.S. to get
Britain to end food blockade
– otherwise will renew unrestricted
submarine warfare
• Wilson tries to mediate, calls for
―a peace between equals‖
• Kaiser announces U-boats will
sink all ships in British waters
• Four unarmed American
merchant ships sunk

19. Convoy systems
• Destroyers escort
merchant ships
across Atlantic
- losses drop
dramatically
• Navy helps lay
mines across North
Sea, keep U-boats
out of Atlantic

20. Wilson Declares War
• Wilson calls for war to
make world ―safe for
democracy‖
• Revolution in Russia
– Russian monarchy
replaced with
representative
government
– War of democracies
against monarchies