12-2+USH

Abby Regan 2/1/12 USHCP Mr. Masterson

Key Terms: Sussex Pledge: Promise issued by German officials during WWI not to sink merchant vessels without warning or without assuring the passengers' safety. National Defense Act: Passed by Congress in 1916, this increased the number of soldiers in the regular army from 90,000 to 175,000 with a goal of 223,000 troops. Zimmermann Note: Cable sent to the German minister in Mexico by Germany's foreign secretary during WWI that proposed an alliance between the two countries. Selective Service Act: Passed by Congress in 1917, it required men between the ages of 21 and 30 to register with the local draft boards (later changed to men between ages 18-45). Convoy System: Use of armed vessels to escort unarmed merchant vessels transporting troops, supplies, or volunteers through the North Atlantic durning WWI.

Key People: Robert Lansing: William Jennings Bryan's successor who encouraged the trade of war materials with the Allies. Jeannette Rankin: A representative of Montana who opposed the declaration for war. John J. Pershing: A general who lead the expedition into Mexico that pursued the Pancho Villa, and commanded the first USA troops who reached France in 1917.

Summary:

U.S. Neutrality
 * War tended to be viewed by Americans as a strictly European matter, and President Woodrow Wilson wanted the USA to remain neutral.
 * While the USA tried not to take any actions, the immigrants sympathized with the Central Powers because that's where they were from.
 * More Americans sided with the Allies, because they shared the same language and culture as Britain.
 * The British navy blocked Germany and stopped USA ships traveling to neutral countries and searched their cargos, looking for anything that might be going to Germany.
 * Germany established to the British Blockade by surrounding Britain, so any ships, even neutral ones, entering this area could be attacked by U-Boats (German Submarines).
 * After a couple of British liners were attacked by German U-Boats, which killed many Americans, the citizens of the USA were outraged.
 * President Wilson still tried to make agreements with the other countries to halt "unrestricted submarine warfare against civilian ships", and wasn't backed up by many.

The Road to War
 * The sinking of a major British passenger liner, the //Lusitania// brought the conflict in Europe closer to home.

Wilson's Actions Criticized
 * After more attacks on liners carrying American passengers, Wilson threatened to cut diplomatic ties if Germany didn't stop sinking ships, so Germany eventually came up with the Sussex Pledge.
 * Most Americans supported the president's decision, but some saw him as a coward.
 * Others thought Wilson was no longer remaining neutral, as he was encouraging trade with members of the Allies.

Preparedness and Peace
 * President Wilson "launched a military preparedness program" by building up the navy and the army.
 * Wilson barely defeated his opponent in the presidental election by promising Americans that he was still neutral.
 * After the election, Wilson tried to negotiate a settlement to the war.

Diplomatic Relations Broken
 * In February 1917, the Germans began attacking everyone's ships again, and Wilson broke off all diplomatic relations.
 * In March 1917, American newspapers published an intercepted cable note that was asking Mexico to team up with Germany.
 * President Wilson now saw that the USA couldn't stay out of the war.

Congress Declares War
 * Wilson motivated Americans in his speech to "crusade for a better world".
 * The Senate declared war on April 4, 1917, and the House followed two days later, but not all representatives wanted war.

Mobilizing U.S. Military Power
 * The USA joined the Allies, and what the Allies needed were fresh troops, but few Americans wanted to join the service.

Recruiting An Army
 * The Selective Service Act got more people in the Army.
 * Supporters of the draft thought that that the draft would bring together soldiers of different nationalities, and when Native Americans had to serve, they were granted USA citizenship.
 * African Americans couldn't find much to do, as they were discriminated against and harassed while they were training.
 * Pressure from African American organizations convinced the army to let the African Americans do more, but they were still separated from whites.

Training The Troops
 * Massive training camps had to be created to house and train soldiers by using simple designs, a huge workforce, and mass production techniques.
 * The military also wanted to do something similar in terms of training the troops.
 * When the recruits arrived at training camp, they underwent many medical examinations, and spent most of their days learning military rules, drilling, exercising, and preparing for inspections.
 * Soldiers also spent much of their time learning how to fight and use weapons.

Over There
 * US troops began sailing to France as part of the American Expeditionary Force.
 * John J. Pershing was the U.S. Army's most experienced combat officer, as he spent four years with the calvary against Native Americans, and was a military instructor at several places.
 * Pershing also fought in the Spanish-American War and served in the Philippines from 1899-1903.
 * Although he failed to capture Villa, Pershing was appointed as head of the AEF, and wouldn't let the Allies tell him how to use his troops.
 * In July 1917, thousands of U.S. soldiers marched through Paris, and were repaying France for their help in the Revolutionary War.
 * The troops arrived in France in huge amounts as the weeks passed, and army engineers built many things, including docks, railroads, hospitals, storage sheds, and telephone and telegraph lines.
 * Many American Women worked in army hospitals, and volunteers for Red Cross, YMCA, and other agencies.
 * Merchant vessels were escorted by warships, and no on died as the result of an enemy attack.