THE US AND WORLD WAR I: An Outline of Key Events

WORLD WAR I

Origins

Wilson and Neutrality

The US in the Great War

Origins of the Great War In Europe

• June 28, 1914: assassination in Sarajevo

• Aug. 1: Austria declares war on Serbia

• Germany declares war on Russia

• Aug 3: Germany declares war on France

• Aug. 4: Great Britain declares war on Germany

• Aug. 5: Pres. Wilson declares neutrality

American Neutrality, 1914-1917

• Wilson feared civil war in US

• Support for Central Powers (Germany & Austria) quite strong

• Wilson favored Allies (Britain, France, Russia, Serbia, Belgium)

• Wilson asked for neutrality “in thought as well as action.”

Freedom of the Seas

• Neutrality difficult to maintain

• British stopped ships going to Germany

• Germany declared a war zone around England

– May 1915: Lusitania sunk, 1,198 killed (128 Americans)

– Wilson protested; W.J. Bryan resigned

– It did carry weapons of war

Election of 1916

• Wilson v. Charles Evans Hughes

• “He Kept Us Out of War”

• Wilson gets 50.2% of popular vote

– Supported “preparedness” in case of war

– Navy and army strengthened

– Jan. 1917 Wilson asks each side to state “war aims”

– Germany announced unrestricted submarine war; Wilson breaks relations

1917: Year of Decision

• March 1: Zimmerman telegram published in US papers

• March 15: A revolt in Russia overthrows the Czar

• April 2: Wilson calls for war “to make the world safe for democracy.”

• April 6: House and Senate vote for war