World War 1 Notes

American Neutrality

-They weren’t anywhere close to Europe

President Wilson explained to the Americans that they should be impartial in thought as well as deed.

- Culturally: The Americans were more inclined to help the allies, because of their discrete connections.

-Economically: Americans were able to trade with Great Britain and France

The British essentially stopped any ships going towards Germany and searched them for anything that would enhance the German War exclusion.

-Politically: American allies had the same type of government (democratic) and the other central powers were more dictator like.

Neutral Rights

-Americans believed that because of their neutrality they were able to operate in whatever fashion they wanted to.

-The American government failed to challenge the British Blockade, which ultimately made the Germans suspicious of whether they really were neutral.

-Then the Americans did challenge the fact that the Germans used submarines.

The Lusitania and USW

-Essentially the Germans are putting out a notice to the Americans, that they shouldn’t go onto British ships because they would be attacking British ships.

-The passenger ship sank in about 22 minutes.

-Americans were angry about the American citizens being attacked on the Lusitania.

- President Wilson proclaimed that if the Germans continued to disobey the rules they would have to declare war on them.

The Election of 1916

-Most of America was in favor of Neutrality.

-President Wilson decided that the country should definitely prepare for a war but not actually fully dive into complete war yet.

-Wilson won reelection by over 600,000 votes