I. Outbreak of the Great War A. Europe in 1914-Central vs. Allied Powers B. Arch Duke Ferdinand and his wife Sophia one hour before 1. Picture of assassination 1. G. Princip, 16 captured C. Most Americans felt war was impossible: 1. Balance of power prevented it 2. War was too obsolete 3. We were too modern 4. Too democratic 5. Unthinkable because of new weapons (Subs artillery, and machine guns) D. Wilson Declared Neutrality 1. Americans said: ?This does not concern us.? 2. ?Neutral in thought & in deed? a. 1/3 country was foreign born b. Attachments to old country 1. 8 mil Ger 4 mil Irish 2. Wilson worried about their loyalty 3. Most Americans were pro-British 4. Invaded Belgium (N) Americans became anti-German E. Allies used psychology on US (free response question) II. FREEDOM OF THE SEAS. A. British dominated Atlantic 1. Both sides need US goods 2. British disallowed US trade to Ger a. Br issued contraband lists 1. All commodities including food was contraband 2. Neutral ships forced to port and searched b. Black listed trading with Ger. c. Similar to 1812 3. Wilson frustrated a. Embargo now? b. Dilemma--to help British or demand freedom of seas c. Trade with Br soared. d. Allies borrowed Billions from US banks for more goods. B. 1914-1915 Germany not concerned with the U.S. 1. Ger felt confident-?We will Crush them quickly? 2. After stalemate in 1915-16, Germany turned to U-Boat 3. U-Boat to attack the UK Navy a. 1915 Ger declared Unrestricted Sub war zone in North Atlantic b. WW: Germany?Strictly Accountable? for loss of US life. 1. But he would not risk war 2. Nor did he request more military money C. Then came the Lusitania (May 1915) 1. WW acted diplomatically. a. ?Ger disavow this sinking b. Indemnify victims c. Stop attacking passenger ships 2. Then came the Sussex sinking 3. Wilson issued Sussex warning a. No further sinking without warning b. US will break relations.? c. Germany agreed 4. In 1916 most Americans favored peace D. WW vacillated on preparedness 1. Asked for increase in Mil $, 2. but only real action was to protest blacklisting 3. WW. Policy on preparedness was confusing. 4. Sec. of War Lindley Garrison resigned also IV. THE U. S. ELECTION OF 1916. A. Democrats in trouble 1. TR was back 2. He hated WW for not committing troops. 3. Progressives angry-?too little done.? B. So Wilson went after Progressive 1. Louis Brandeis a. Progressive b. Jewish 2. Passed the Farm Loan Act a. Low cost loans to farmers b. Old Populist idea 3. Keeting Owen-outlawing child labor under 16 4. Adamson Act limited RR workers to 8 hr day. 5. Labor exempt from Sherman Antitrust C. Republicans pick Charles Evans Hughes 1. Even though TR back-Rep angry at him 2. Prog angry too that he rejected them 3. TR will hurt: Called Hughes ?The Bearded Lady? D. Issues: 1. WW wanted ?He got us Prepared.? 2. Dem picked ?He Kept Us Out of War? 3. Republicans campaign on lack of preparedness 4. The Hiram Johnson (R-Ca) factor 5. Wilson Wins (Map) V. THE ROAD TO WAR. A. WW genuinely neutral B. Horrified by slaughter, WW sent House to Europe. 1. House had little success 2. Both sides used him as stalling tactica. a. WW wrote and asked each for their terms for peace b. No one responded c. So in January 1917 WW made ?Peace Without Victory? speech. 1. All nations are equal-Self determination 2. International organization 3. Disarmament and freedom of the seas. C. Then in 1917, Ger announced new unrestricted warfare 1. It had 100 new U-Boats 2. Ger reneged on Sussex Pledge 3. Even if US gets into war, it will be too late. 4. Zimmerman Telegram D. US responds 1. WW breaks relations 2. Asked Congress to arm US merchants. 3. Asks for War VI. Mobilization A. Allies in trouble 1. Misled the US about the war 2. Out of money 3. Rebellious troops 4. Russia out of the war B. American not ready--WW fault C. Conversion to war readiness 1. Industrial goals were large a. Need for ships b. Need unified transportation c. WG McAdoo d. One million men 2. War Industry Board Bernard Buruch oversee war production a. Profits wi$$ be Large b. But Allies need supplies desperately D. Mobilization proved huge task 1. One result military industrial complex 2. American industry in chaos 3. Food problem solved quickly a. Lever Act b. To encourage farm production prices set high.