Lesson 1

The American Participation in the Great War

1-The outbreak of WW1 and the American reaction:

The First World War broke out in 1914, leading the different countries and continents to
fight each other. The main fighting blocs were the Allies led by France and Great Britain and the
Central Powers led by Germany. At that time, the US, which was presided over by President
Woodrow Wilson did not take part in it. The main reason for this was the fact that the US was
neutral, which dated back to the nineteenth century with the adoption of the Monroe Doctrine, and
also the determination of President Wilson not to take his country into war; he was a pacifist.
Another reason was that it ceased this opportunity to trade with the different wary countries and to
make profits out of this conflict. It notably provided these countries with war necessities such as
food, clothes, medicines and medical materials, and even loans and mediation. But this neutrality
did not last long since the US found itself involved directly in the conflict in 1917.
2-The reasons behind the US entry in the First World War:
1-The sinking of the Lusitania boat in 1915: The British and the Germans decided to apply the
policy of blockade, which consisted in establishing a list of different goods considered as
contraband that could not be transported and sold. In case a boat transported them, it could be
attacked. This is what happened when the Germans suspected that the British passengers’ boat,
Lusitania coming from the US, was transporting contrabands, and decided to torpedo it with their
submarines in 1915. It led to the killing of a number of passengers, notably 128 Americans. This
shocked public opinion which turned towards the side of the Allies.
2-The Zimmerman’s telegraph in 1917: The German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann sent a
telegraph to the Mexican government asking it to declare war on the US. The objective behind was
to make the US busy in a war within its continent to dissuade it to come to the European continent
and side with the Allies. The telegraph was intercepted by the British and sent to the Americans.
This, naturally, caused controversy and consternation among the American administration and
population.
3-The outbreak of the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917 and the Russian withdrawal from the War:
The Bolshevik Revolution represented a threat to the democratic aspirations of the US since it was
based on Communism, an opposite ideology. In addition, when the Bolsheviks withdrew, it
weakened the Allies who had also democratic aspirations and their defeat meant the defeat of
democracy and the victory of dictatorships. In April, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson decided to
declare war on Germany, after a vote in the Congress.
3-The US in the First World War:
The Americans did not take part in the war immediately, they had to prepare themselves. Indeed,
they did not have enough soldiers to help the French fight the German soldiers. Therefore, they
spent almost 1917 recruiting American soldiers to win the war. In the meantime, the Germans
knew that they had to be rapid in advancing all over France, notably to reach Paris before the
arrival of the Americans.
In August, 1918, the American government was ready and sent its troops to France to support the
Allies in their fight. The main objective of the Americans was to defeat Germany. This is what
happened since the Allies drove back the Germans, whose government decided to sign an armistice
in November, 1918.
In 1919, President Wilson went to Europe to take part in the drafting of a peace treaty. He was
notably against the harsh treatment that the Allies inflicted on Germany. They made it responsible
for everything in the war and forced it to pay for all the damages caused in the conflict. He believed
this would arouse anger among Germans, which could lead to another conflict. He was also behind
the idea of the League of Nations, an international institution where nations could discuss their
problems and grievances to solve them and to establish a world of peace. However, he could not
convince his countrymen to join it since the Congress voted against it.
4-The impact of the war on the US:
-The division of the American society
-The death of Americans in the conflict.
-The improvement of the American economy (trade with the wary countries and loans).
-Missing the chance to take part and to control international politics.