The War and the USA

The War and the USA: ● ● The war was known as the European Civil War – a term coined by then-President Woodrow Wilson. The war brought an economic boom to the US. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare: ● ● The US were under attack despite its neutrality: ○ Originally they believed that their neutrality would guard against attack. ○ Unrestricted Submarine Warfare sunk the RMS Lusitania which had 128 US passengers aboard on the 7th May, 1915. ■ After this the Germans ceased employing USW as per the demands of the USA: ■ They wanted to preserve American neutrality. ■ They decided that the cost of discontinuing USW was too great and restarted it in February 1917. ○ March 1917, 3 US ships were sunk with 36 deaths. ○ Seven US merchant boats were sunk by the Germans just before they went to war. Because of USW, US ships refused to sail to Britain: ○ Thus piles of goods began to grow at many US docks. ○ President Wilson broke off relations with Germany because of this. Zimmermann Telegram: ● ● ● This was intercepted and decoded by the British: ○ It was sent from Germany to Mexico. ○ It said that if Mexico joined the Germans they would receive financial aid and the territories of Texas, Arizona and New Mexico following a German victory: ■ These territories were originally theirs prior to their war with the Americans 70 years earlier. This ploy to ally with Mexico was put into action at the same time as a similar ploy to ally with Japan: ○ They hoped to divert the attention of the USA from Europe by doing these things. ○ Both attempts at an alliance were rejected. This Telegram made American citizens see the Germans, with some help from propaganda, as foul tricksters. ○ It was great for propaganda and was used to generate anti-German sentiments. Democracy: ● Because the world must be made “safe for democracy”: ○ March 1917, the Tsarist government of Russia was overthrown. ■ As Russia was no longer autocratic the Americans became more willing to join the Allies because they could now put forth the idea of “fighting for democracy”. ■ President Wilson said that the USA was trying to rid the world of the tyranny of autocratic governments like Germany and Austria-Hungary. Other Reasons: ● ● ● Because “right is more important than peace.” ○ Peace can therefore be upset for the right reason. ○ Thus said Woodrow Wilson when he went to congress asking for a declaration of war against the Germans on 2nd April, 1917. Because the USA would face economic collapse if the loans American bankers made to the Allies could not be repaid. Because it was good for business: ○ Wall Street wanted war. ○ Participation in the war was the most tremendous and profitable coup in the history of American finance. ○ 21 000 new American millionaires were made during the war period because of munitions manufacture and other such things. ○ ● ● ● ● ● ● 69 000 men were able to make more than three billion dollars over and above their normal income. Because the USA had cultural, historical, and economic ties to Great Britain. Because of anti-German sentiment influenced by historic ties to England, German policies and American and British propaganda. Because the US’s armed forces and their weaponry had been expanded and developed: ○ “You cannot build up a standing army and then throw it back into a box like tin soldiers,” said Emma Goldman. They used propaganda to bring the war to the USA. ○ They used it to justify the war. Some Americans, like General Pershing, believed: ○ America should fight as America in the war and not as the backup force for the Allies. The Americans declared war on Germany on the 6th April, 1917. ○ They were very rich and powerful. US Involvement: ● This was minimal: ○ More people died from disease than from fighting. ○ This is speculation.