History

• America watches World War One

  1914 to April 1917
• America doesn't get involved immediately


  American politicians are petrified of being drawn into a foreign war and fighting for foreign ends
• The United States is a nation of immigrants, people came here to avoid war in Europe
• The Americans had from the very beginning an official policy of neutrality
• Neutrality never meant indifference or apathy
• The Wilson administration is walking a tightrope
• Woodrow Wilson runs for re-election on a slogan he kept us out of war

  1916
• The same president is declaring war on the Germans


  Within a year after winning that election
• Germany's decision to revive unrestricted submarine warfare


  Triggers America's entry into the war
• Germany had offered to return to the Mexicans all the lands they had lost in the 19th century to the U.S. (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona)
• The Germans sent this offer to the Mexicans by telegram, which was captured by the British and released to the public
• The telegram angered the American people


  Combined with unrestricted submarine warfare, Wilson felt the U.S. had to enter the war
• When America entered the conflict, it changed the war, but not as much as expected
• As America was entering the war, Russia was dropping out
• America brought in the men, material, and resources that the Allies desperately needed
• The American commitment was a real shot in the arm for both political leaders and for ordinary soldiers in the trenches
• Prior to World War One, America was recognized as a strong young nation
• By joining with the Allies and helping to bring about the end of the war, America positioned itself as one of the world powers for the rest of the century