WORLD WAR ONE and UNITED
STATES PARTICIPATION

Lawrence Charles Jorgensen
Professor of History and Political Science -- September, 1965

I. ORIGINS OF THE WORLD WAR

A. THE UNDERLYING CAUSES

1. The system of secret alliances
   1. The Triple Alliance: Germany, Austro-Hungary, Italy
   2. The Triple Entente: France, England, Russia
2. Militarism: armaments and militarists
3. Nationalism
   1. Pan-Slavism: in Eastern Europe and the Balkans
   2. Pan-Germanism: Central Europe and the Balkans
   3. Revanche: France and Alsace-Lorraine
   4. Italia Irredenta the Trentino and Trieste
4. Economic Imperialism: colonies, markets, raw materials, tariff walls
5. Freedom of the Press -- OR "How to sell newspapers"

B. THE IMMEDIATE CAUSES OF THE WAR

1. The assassination of Franz Ferdinand June 28, 1914 (Sarajevo)
   1. Serbian nationalism
2. Subsequent Declarations of War
   1. Austrian Ultimatum to Serbia --- July 23
   2. Russia decides on war if Serbia is attacked --- July 25
      France assures Russia of support
      Serbia orders mobilization
      Austria orders mobilization against Serbs
   3. British fleet held in readiness --- July 27
      British promises Russia support
      France makes initial mobilization steps
   4. Austria declares war on Serbia --- July 28
      France reassures Russia
      
   5. Russia begins mobilization --- July 29 (later canceled)
   6. Russia again orders full mobilization --- July 30
   7. German ultimatum to Russia (12 hrs) --- July 31
      Austria decrees general mobilization --- -5:00 P.M.
      
   8. French general mobilization --- Aug. 1 -3:55 P.M.
      German general mobilization --- -4:00 P.M.
      Germany declares war on Russia --- -7.00 P.M.
   9. German invasion of Luxembourg and
      transit request through Belgium --- Aug. 2
   10. Germany declares war on France;
       begins invasion of Belgium --- Aug. 3
   11. England declares war on Germany --- Aug. 4
   12. Austria declares war on Russia --- Aug. 6
   13. France declares war on Austria Aug. 12
       England declares war on Austria
       

QUESTION: WHO STARTED WORLD WAR ONE? WHOM DO YOU BLAME?

ANSWERS:

(1) The European powers declared the New York Times, "have reverted to the condition of savage tribes roaming the forests and falling upon each other in a fury of blood and carnage to achieve the ambitious designs of chieftains clad in skins and drunk with mead."
(2) "Do you want to know the cause of the war?" asked Henry Ford. "It is capitalism, greed, and dirty hunger for dollars.... Take away the capitalist, and you will sweep war from the earth."
(3) "We never appreciated so keenly as now (wrote an Indiana editor) the foresight exercised by our forefathers in emigrating from Europe."

II. THE MOTH AND THE FLAME

A. NEUTRALITY: FICTION AND FACT

Actual U.S. Position

1. Robert Lansing: Counselor and Secretary of State after May, 1915
2. Colonel Edward House: Wilson's alter ego
3. Walter Hines Page: American ambassador to Court of St. James
4. Woodrow Wilson: President of All The People

1. English-Americans
2. Scotch-Americans
3. German-Americans
4. Irish-Americans
5. Italian-Americans
6. East European-Americans

WILL THE REAL AMERICAN PLEASE STAND UP?

B. THE RIGHTS OF NEUTRALS England and the Allies

C. THE RIGHTS OF NEUTRALS vis a vis Germany and her submarines

1. German blockade of British Isles-February 1915-warning to all neutrals.
2. May 1915-"Lusitania" 1,198 dead including 128 Americans a. U.S. Response: warning to Germany -- Bryan resigns b. Germany orders liners spared
3. August 1915-"Arabic", 2 Americans killed a. U.S. sends strong protest Germany assures safety of unresisting passenger ships
4. August 1915: "England arms her merchant ships - starts arming passenger ships
5. February 1916: Germany announces intention to sink armed merchant ships

   QUESTION: WHEN IS A WARSHIP A WARSHIP? WHEN IS IT NOT? AND HOW DO YOU TELL THROUGH A PERISCOPE?

   1. U.S. declares Germany to be held responsible
6. March 1916: 'Sussex" (French channel steamer, unarmed) several Americans seriously wounded
   1. Wilson reads ultimatum before Congress (April 19): abandon unrestricted submarine warfare against all vessels, even armed belligerents or U.S. would sever diplomatic relations.
   2. Germany replies: promise not to sink without warning those who do not resist.
      

      WHAT IF THE UNITED STATES PERSUADED ENGLAND TO GIVE UP THEIR BLOCKADE OF GERMANY-
      (if not, Germany would retain freedom of action)
      

   3. Wilson accepts pledge -- ignores conditions

D. ELECTION OF 1916: "He kept us out of War!" (Wilson to Daniels: "I can't keep the country out of war .... Any little German lieutenant can put us into war at any time by some calculated outrage."

III. THE WAR TO SAVE DEMOCRACY OR "NEARER, MY GOD, TO THEE"

A. RESUMPTION OF UNRESTRICTED SUBMARINE WARFARE-January 31,1917 Germany to sink all ships, armed or unarmed, neutral or belligerent, within the war zone

QUESTION: The United States had permitted the Allies to cut off U.S. trade with Germany; could the U.S. now afford to permit Germany to cut off trade with the Allies? If so, who is going to buy all that cotton and wheat, beef and pork, guns and munitions? Haven't neutrals any rights?

B. ZIMMERMAN NOTE -- February 25,1917

1. Wilson orders the arming of U.S. merchant ships

C. "The World must be made safe for Democracy" - April 2, 1917

1. Senate votes for war, 82 - 6.... April 4
2. House votes for war, 373 - 50.... April 6,1917, GOOD FRIDAY

IV. GOOD-BYE 19th CENTURY; HELLO 20th!