Previous

America joins the War

Why did America enter the war?

Wilson’s speech to Congress, 2 Apr 1917 suggested 6 reasons:

    1.  Accused Ger. of abandoning “law & ” by using U-boats to sink all ships near Allied ports incl. US ones → killed Am lives.

    2.  US ≠ seeking revenge but fighting to defend “human ”.

    3.  Ger. had filled US with ; had tried to stir up trouble internally = ∴ could never be friend to US.

    4.  Zimmermann Telegram proved Ger. was plotting to get Mexico to attack US = threat on US border.

    5.  Prussian rule = anti-democratic → ∴ world must be made safe for

    6.  US fighting for: democracy, self-govt, small nations’ rights, peace & safety for all, a global system based on law & freedom = ‘a concert of ’.

    7.  Four other factors Wilson didn’t mention:

          ◦  Russian Tsar abdicated Mar 1917 → no longer awkward for US to ally w. Entente.

          ◦  Growing (from 1915): nationalistic, pro-war, wanted strong US (military & trade), believed trained soldiers = better workers.

          ◦  Economic boom:

              – US trade doubled 1914–16.

              – Gunpowder prod ↑ x60 – all exported.

              – 1914 recession ended.

              – Joining war = profit for arms firms (eg Bethlehem Steel, Remington Arms).

              – Arms exports: $40m (1914) → $1.3b (1916) → $2.3b (1917–18).

          ◦  Propaganda turned public opinion vs Ger.

What did America contribute to the war effort?

    1.  :

          ◦  5m served (½ conscripted).

          ◦  2m went to France (American Expeditionary Force), >½ fought → 320k casualties, 53k kia.

          ◦  Crucial in 1918 battles.

    2.  :

          ◦  Sent battleships to Scapa Flow to join UK Grand Fleet.

          ◦  Sent subs to protect convoys.

    3.  :

          ◦  Huge logistics op → 2k tons/day to France incl.:

              – 700k tons steel

              – 30k tons iron

              – 55k tons brass/copper

              – 34.5m ft of wood

    4.  :

          ◦  1917 harvest poor + Russ. out of war = risk of shortage.

          ◦  US Food Admin (1917) ran ‘Wheat Will Win the War’ campaign = encouraged US public to eat less wheat.

          ◦  ∴ UK wheat use/person actually ↑ in 1917.

    5.  5. Enormous :

          ◦  US lent Allies $7b (1917–18).

          ◦  Financed by:

              – Govt bonds

              – ↑ Income Tax

              – Extra taxes: (eg) beer & wine; theatre/circus/bowling/billiards; telegrams; overseas steamship tickets.

    6.  Reactions:

          ◦  News that US joining bolstered the Allies’ .

          ◦  forced Ger. to gamble on 1918 offensive.