World War I:World War I:12.3 United States 12.3 United States

NeutralityNeutrality

Wilson Proposes NeutralityWilson Proposes Neutrality

Wilson urged Americans to be: Wilson urged Americans to be: “Neutral in fact as well as in “Neutral in fact as well as in name . . . Impartial in thought as name . . . Impartial in thought as well as in action”well as in action”

Hoped to negotiate a settlement Hoped to negotiate a settlement to the conflictto the conflict

Was the US truly neutral?Was the US truly neutral?

US remained neutral in action (AT US remained neutral in action (AT FIRST)FIRST)

Few US citizens remained neutral in Few US citizens remained neutral in thoughtthought

Most Americans backed the Allies Most Americans backed the Allies due to British propaganda against due to British propaganda against GermanyGermany

Events Challenging Events Challenging NeutralityNeutrality

1. British Naval Blockade1. British Naval Blockade

2. German “War Zone”2. German “War Zone”

3. Sinking of the 3. Sinking of the LusitaniaLusitania

4. Sussex Pledge4. Sussex Pledge

1. British Naval Blockade1. British Naval Blockade

Britain blockaded Germany and laid Britain blockaded Germany and laid mines in the North Seamines in the North Sea

Stopped US ships bound for neutral Stopped US ships bound for neutral countries and searched themcountries and searched them

Wilson protested this violation of US Wilson protested this violation of US neutralityneutrality

German Submarine = U Boat

2. German “War Zone”2. German “War Zone”

1915 Germany formed a war zone 1915 Germany formed a war zone around Britainaround BritainAny ship (including neutral) subject to Any ship (including neutral) subject to U-Boat attackU-Boat attackWilson warned Germany they would Wilson warned Germany they would be held responsible for any injury to be held responsible for any injury to American property or life on the seasAmerican property or life on the seas

3. Sinking of the 3. Sinking of the LusitaniaLusitania

May 7, 1915May 7, 1915

German U-Boat sinks British German U-Boat sinks British passenger liner the passenger liner the LusitaniaLusitania

1198 people killed 1198 people killed

–128 Americans128 Americans

Germans claimed it was blockade Germans claimed it was blockade runnerrunner

3. Sinking of the 3. Sinking of the LusitaniaLusitania

Wilson demands Germans pledge to Wilson demands Germans pledge to halt attacks on civilian shipshalt attacks on civilian ships

Germany defends itself:Germany defends itself:–Warned Americans in newspapers Warned Americans in newspapers

about sailing into war zoneabout sailing into war zone–LusitaniaLusitania had arms aboard it had arms aboard it

4. Sussex Pledge4. Sussex PledgeIssued by Germany 1916Issued by Germany 1916 - U-Boats would give warning prior to - U-Boats would give warning prior to attackattackWilson responded by threatening to cut Wilson responded by threatening to cut diplomatic relations with Germanydiplomatic relations with Germany

Wilson was now viewed as either too Wilson was now viewed as either too weak or as abandoning neutraliweak or as abandoning neutralityty