HIS132 51

Mid Term Examination

Due: Friday June 7th, 2019

Assignment: What was the initial reaction of most Americans to the outbreak of war in Europe in
1914 and why did the United States eventually intervene in the conflict?

In the early twentieth century, European politics were characterized by a rivalry between

Germany in one side and France with Britain in the other side. The rivalry was over a military

race that could make the war inevitable. Germany fears that Britain and France attack and invade

its territories. The pressures rise on June 28th, 1914 with the assassination of Austro-Hungarian

Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian activist, an ally of Russia. Austro-Hungary asked for

German support; they declared war on Serbia on July 28th, 1914. More and more nations joined

the fight. Russia supported Serbia, so Germany declared war on Russia; France then declared

war on Germany. In this war, two groups are belligerents: in one hand, the Allied gathering

Britain, France and Russia and in the other hand Germany, Turkey and Austria-Hungary. At this

point, Belgium and the United States are not involved in war, they declare themselves as neutral.

Indeed, at the outbreak of the Great War, the US secretary of State Bryan adopted a hopeful view

of the events in Europe “it may be" he suggested "that the world needed one more awful object

lesson to prove conclusively the fallacy of the doctrine that preparedness for war can give

assurance for peace”1. The United States did not only hope for peace but they kept the American
1
Making America Making America, Volume II: To 1877: A History of the United States, Cherny, Berkin, Miller,
Vol II, page 542, §1.

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nation to a low profile in this war by adopting a neutral view.

Initial reaction of the US Government and the Americans

The initial reaction of the President Wilson to the European conflict was surrounded of neutrality

as he announced on August 4, that Americans needs to be "neutral in fact as well as in

same...impartial in thought as well as in action." Wilson hoped that USA serves as peacemaker in

maintaining neutrality in the war. Yet, Wilson remained firm with traditional neutrality; a

decision which favored the Allied. In contrast of the President opinion, his Secretary of State,

Bryant, is willing to change his neutral view if there is any cause that lead the United States into

the conflict. Bryant is against the loans granted to the two sides opponents; however, Wilson

believes that refusing the loans could affect the Allies economies. Thus, Wilson is more partisan

of the Allies side.

On the US population side, Wilson vision was not appreciated by most of the Americans.

Because of the long friendship of England with USA and the French assistance during the

American revolution, Americans viewed the Nazis German atrocity as barbaric rejected the

neutrality and wanted to go to war with the Allies. However a considerable portion of Americans

wanted the US to be sided with the Axis due to their parents being German (8 million out of 97

million ) who do not see the Nazis as barbarians and also Americans born from Irish parent hate

England for dominating their lands (5 millions)2.

Because not all the Americans supported the war against the Axis and therefore the president

decision, Wilson decided to create a committee on Public Information to mobilize the public

opinion, led by a journalist George Creel. This committee was composed of artist, writers, actors
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Making America Making America, Volume II: To 1877: A History of the United States, Cherny, Berkin, Miller,
Vol II, page 542, §2.

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who had mission to make a propaganda for the war by using the patriotism and demonization of

Germans. The purpose of this mobilization was also to forbid the use of foreign languages in

some states, removal of German books from libraries and the establishment of an

“Americanization”3 system defined as an assimilation of immigrants. Other measures included

violation of civil rights affecting the socialist, Pro Germans, pacifists that were lynched and

threatened. Under the Espionage Act in 1917 and Sedition act in 1918, opponents of the decision

of war face prisons. The example of Industrial Workers of the World have seen their leaders

arrested and fined millions of dollars. This attack against of this organization led to its

bankruptcy and dissolution. In view of these threats and violations of civil rights, American were

deeply shocked. Furthermore, due to the insufficient number of volunteers for the war, the

congress passed the Selective Service Act, requiring men between 21 and 30 to register to know

who would be drafted. This law making compulsory the service, led to a large number of military

members(4.8 million)4. Five thousands of women served as nurse, nearly 400.000 of African

American, considered as “second class soldiers” served as food service worker, they were

excluded from the marines and were always put under white person authority5.

Nevertheless, the feeling of horror and shock of most Americans is balanced by the economic

gain of the United States creating economic opportunity for the American Nation. The war

involved the considerable increase of the US economy. Indeed, the exports to Britain and France

3
Making America Making America, Volume II: To 1877: A History of the United States, Cherny, Berkin, Miller,
Vol II, page 548 , §3.

4
Making America Making America, Volume II: To 1877: A History of the United States, Cherny, Berkin, Miller,
Vol II, page 551, §2.

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Making America Making America, Volume II: To 1877: A History of the United States, Cherny, Berkin, Miller,
Vol II, page 551, §5.

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were estimated $750 million in 1914 and reached $2.7 billion in 19166. American bankers loaned

the Allies more than $2 billion in 19177. American companies exported a merchandise of

explosives worth of $ 6 million in 1914 and $467 million in 19168. The United States finally are

not anymore a debtor nation but became a creditor nation. As companies blossomed, America

created more jobs for Americans.

2 The reason of declaring the war

The attacks reached the maritime side dominated by Great Britain. Britain blockaded Germans

vessels by stopping and escorted them at the port. Germany reacted to the Britain decision,

declaring a blockade of the British Islands, controlled by its submarines, called U-boats.

Germany fear that their U-boats, which are fragile submarines can be sink by the large ship

merchant ships, attack the large US merchant ships. President Wilson protested against the U-

boats incessant attacks and warned Germany to take severe diplomatic sanctions. Germany

undertakes that the U-boats will not attack the noncombatant vessels.

An offer of the negotiations and peace recommended by the President Wilson have been rejected

by both belligerents parties. Therefore, in the face of the peace skepticism, American

government started to prepare a large military expenditure in 1916. After his reelection in 1916,

he continued to praise negotiations and Germany decided to resume the U-boats attacks which

led Wilson to break the diplomatic relations. In March 1916, Wilson received a message from

6
Making America Making America, Volume II: To 1877: A History of the United States, Cherny, Berkin, Miller,
Vol II, page 543, §2.

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Making America Making America, Volume II: To 1877: A History of the United States, Cherny, Berkin, Miller,
Vol II, page 543, §2.

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Making America Making America, Volume II: To 1877: A History of the United States, Cherny, Berkin, Miller,
Vol II, page 543, §2.

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Germany through its Foreign Affairs Minister (Zimmermann) warning him that Mexico and

Germany would enter into a war and if they win, Mexico will regain its lost territories( Texas,

Arizona and New Mexico). Zimmermann persuaded Japan to join the alliance for a war against

the USA and Germany sunk 6 American ships which involved Wilson to ask the congress to

declare the war to Germany in April 19179. He claimed that the “world must be made safe for

democracy”. Even in Congress, the majority of the member voted affirmative for the war; 373

against 50 in the House of Representatives and 82 against 4 in the Senate10.

Bibliography:

9
Making America Making America, Volume II: To 1877: A History of the United States, Cherny, Berkin, Miller,
Vol II, page 544, §5.

10
Making America Making America, Volume II: To 1877: A History of the United States, Cherny, Berkin, Miller,
Vol II, page 546, §2.

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Making America Making America, Volume II: To 1877: A History of the United States, Cherny, Berkin, Miller,
Vol II.