Welcome!Baltimore Polytechnic Institute

January 6, 2011U.S. History

Mr. Green

The students will analyze public opinion about the war in the United States by listing events that promoted and or slowed the entrance of the U.S. into the war.

Announcement:Warm-up Question: Review the chart on page

398 and answer the following:1. By how much did U.S. exports to France

increase between 1910 and 1915?2. What does the pattern of U.S. exports

show about which side the U.S. took in the European war?

Agenda/Topics To Be Covered

American NeutralityMany U.S. Citizens followed the war because

they had family in EuropeOpposition to the WarSocialists criticized the war as a capitalist

endeavor Pacifists believed the war was evilNaturalized citizens had close ties to EuropeParents did not want their sons to experience

horrors of war

World War I Begins Ch. 11 Sec. 1 pgs. 394-401

Sympathy for the AlliesMany Americans sided with Great Britain and

FranceGermany was viewed as the aggressorAmerica had strong economic ties with the alliesMilitarismNationalism and imperialism caused military

budgets to increaseNations wanted to be stronger than a potential

enemyNations developed armed forces as a tool of

diplomacyGermany began building its navy in response to

the great navy of England

2 main reasons:Ensure repayment of debt to U.S.Prevent German attacks on U.S. shippingBritish BlockadeBritain prevented boats bound for Germany Many Germans starvedGerman U-Boat ResponseGermany sank boats around Great Britain as a

response to the British BlockadeMany lives were lost which negatively impacted

GermanyLusitania sunk on May 7, 1915 killing 128 Americans

The U.S. enters the War

The U.S. remains neutralGermany continued to attack linersGermany promised to stop if the British stopped

blockading food/fertilizer shipmentsUnrestricted submarine warfareThe 1916 ElectionClose election but Wilson won on the fact he kept us

out of warNeutrality collapsesWilson tried to get all sides to have “peace without

victory”Germany laughed, and resumed unrestricted

submarine warfareWilson waited for an overt act, the Zimmerman note

The Zimmerman Note4 unarmed American merchant shipsRussia became a democracy after the Czar

was removedWilson asked for a war declaration and got it

on April 2, 1917 to make the “world safe for democracy”

Hand-out primary source

Independent Work

What did the following nations do to encourage U.S. participation in the war?

1. Britain2. Germany3. Russia

1. Page 401 Question #2.2. Analyze to what extent public opinion

about the war in the United States promoted and or slowed the entrance of the U.S. into the war.

Exit Ticket/Homework