PRESENTATION OUTLINE
WHY THE US WAS BROUGHT INTO WWI
In 1914 the archduke francis Ferdinand and his wife visited the capital of Bosnia. After a failed bomb, Gavrilo Princip, pulled out automatic pistol and shot the lovers. this was one of the causes to spark the great war. The Austria-Hungry blamed Serbia for the death of their heir demanding they cease their support of the terrorist.
Austeria-Hungry had recently Annexed Bosnia and Serbia. Austria-hungry blamed Serbia for the assassination. Austria-Hungry declared war on july 28th. Russia started mobilization (protecting Serbia), Germany demanded that Russia stop. France joined in with its alliance to Russia and Brittian joined in because its alliance to France.
Germany and Austria-hungry made up the central powers while Russia, Serbia, France, and great Britain were called Allies. The experts said after a few months the war would be over. The best and brightest were sent off to war, rat infested trenches. by september Germany had advanced through Belguim and were closing in on Paris.
Most american felt involved 3rd of the nations population was immigrants or children of immigrants. Some of these immigrants were Irish or German. Because of past conflicts with Britain a lot of american favored Central Power instead of the Allies. Most Americans Opposed central power because they could trace there roots back to Britain.
In 1916 the Germans had started using U-Boats to attack English merchant ships. The Germans kept all ships except the U-Boats at port. Without warning the germans would torpedo boats. At first attacking merchant ships. This didn't allow food to reach Britain's port, starving them of food. After Britain armed merchant ships the Germans switched tack tics.
One of the most famous boats remembered was a British owned cruise liner ship, the Lusitania. When the german army blew up the ship with 2,000 passengers it killed 128 americans as well. Germany tryed to justify blowing it up believing it had weapons on board. The Lusitania is one of the most remembered reasons america went to war with Germany.
1917 Germany informed the U.S that it would end the Sussex pledge and resume unrestricted attacks. The Germans knew this may bring Americans into war. They even went as far as try to talk Mexico into attack America for Texas. Britain intercepted this message decoding and handing it over to president Woodrow Wilson.
March 20, 1917 Woodrow Wilson's cabinet voted for war. Before we could go to war we needed to train our unready troops. Still America sent a small force to Europe, they desperately needed the back up. America sent a naval support, supplies, arms, and $3 billion to lone. The naval forced consisted of 14,500 men led by General Pershing.
America in May passed a Selective Service act. This act allowed congress to authorize the drafting of young men. The draft was widely accepted because they believed this was "the war to end all wars." By 1918, 24 million men had signed up, but 3 million were picked to serve. The AEF was made up by volunteers national Guards.
The biggest task for america was turning draftees into soldiers. They taught soldiers how to used bayonet and Rifles. The soldiers were informed of the awful things happening in Germany. They gave them serval months of training in america and France before they sent them off into the war.
