Why America Joined the Great War - World War I DOCUMENTARY

Kings and Generals
24 Mar 202218:07
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video script delves into the multifaceted reasons behind the United States' entry into World War I on the side of the Entente powers. Initially, the American public was strongly opposed to involvement in what they viewed as a European conflict. However, a combination of factors, including economic ties, British naval blockades, and German submarine warfare, shifted public sentiment. The Zimmermann telegram, which proposed a German-Mexican alliance against the U.S., further swayed opinion. By 1917, the U.S. economy had rebounded, largely due to war production for the Entente powers, and a military preparedness movement gained traction. President Woodrow Wilson, initially advocating for neutrality, eventually asked Congress for a declaration of war against Germany, emphasizing the defense of democracy and international law. The U.S. emerged from the war as a significant global economic power, with New York rivaling London as a financial hub.

Takeaways
  • 🌎 The US initially adopted a neutral stance at the outbreak of WWI, reflecting the public's opposition to involvement in the 'European war'.
  • 🛠️ American companies' trade with both sides of the war and the subsequent British blockade led to increased financial ties with the Entente powers and economic recovery in the US.
  • ⛓️ Germany's use of submarine warfare, including the sinking of the RMS Lusitania with the loss of American lives, shifted public sentiment towards entering the war.
  • 📈 The US economy benefited significantly from the war, with industries like steel experiencing a boom due to increased demand for war materials.
  • 💵 Financial support from the US to the Entente powers, primarily through loans facilitated by J.P. Morgan, created a vested interest in their victory.
  • 🇺🇸 President Woodrow Wilson's re-election campaign, with the slogan 'He kept us out of war,' won narrowly amidst anti-militaristic sentiment.
  • 🔍 The Zimmermann Telegram, proposing a German-Mexican alliance against the US, was intercepted and publicized, further swaying public opinion in favor of war.
  • 🤝 The US was influenced by British propaganda depicting the atrocities in Belgium, which played a role in garnering support for the Entente powers.
  • 🚢 Unrestricted submarine warfare by Germany, which led to the sinking of American ships, was a key factor in the US severing diplomatic ties and eventually declaring war.
  • 💂 The military preparedness movement in the US, advocating for the build-up of naval and land forces, gained traction after 1915, reflecting a shift towards potential involvement in the war.
  • 🏛️ Wilson's rationale for entering the war was centered on defending American rights, international law, and promoting democracy, positioning it as a moral imperative.
Q & A

  • Why did the American public initially oppose entering WWI?

    -The American public initially saw WWI as a 'dreadful thing' and a 'European war', and opposed it due to the divided attitudes of immigrants towards the belligerent nations involved.

  • What was President Woodrow Wilson's stance on the US entering WWI at its outbreak?

    -President Woodrow Wilson believed that the US should not enter the war and declared American neutrality at the outbreak of the conflict.

  • How did the British naval blockade affect American companies?

    -The British naval blockade turned away American companies that had been shipping goods to both the Entente and Central Powers, leading to increased financial ties between the US and the Entente powers.

  • What was the impact of WWI on the US economy?

    -The US economy, which was in a downturn, experienced recovery as munition plants began to fill with orders for war materials, leading to a 32% increase in production by 1917.

  • Why did the US begin to loan more money to the Entente rather than the Central Powers?

    -The US began to loan more money to the Entente due to the increasing financial ties and trade, with J.P Morgan Bank becoming the largest lender financing Britain and France.

  • What was the 'rape of Belgium' and how did it influence American public opinion?

    -The 'rape of Belgium' refers to the atrocities committed by the German army against Belgian civilians. The Entente powers propagated this through war propaganda, which influenced American public opinion against Germany.

  • What was the Sussex Pledge and why was it significant?

    -The Sussex Pledge was an agreement by Germany to restrict its submarine campaign, only attacking ships that were definitely British. It was significant as it temporarily eased tensions between the US and Germany.

  • What was the military preparedness movement and who were its proponents?

    -null

  • Why did the Zimmermann telegram play a crucial role in shifting American public opinion towards entering WWI?

    -The Zimmermann telegram, a secret proposal by Germany to establish a military alliance with Mexico, was intercepted and made public by the British. Its disclosure swayed a large part of the American public to believe in their moral right to fight for democracy.

  • How did the financial interests of the US influence its decision to enter WWI?

    -The financial interests played a significant role as the US was the largest wartime creditor, and many American industrialists and bankers backed the preparedness movement, which aligned with their commercial interests. The potential for Entente powers to default on debts to the US if they lost the war was a powerful motivation.

  • What were the main reasons President Wilson cited for declaring war on Germany?

    -President Wilson cited Germany's violation of American rights and international law, the need to stop the German government's aggressive actions, and the defense of democracy, liberty, and freedom as the main reasons for declaring war.

  • How did WWI change the US's global economic and financial standing?

    -By the end of WWI, the US had become the world's most important trading nation and its largest banker. New York emerged as a financial center rivaling London, and the US began investing heavily internationally, particularly in Latin America.

Outlines
00:00
📜 The Shift in Public Sentiment: From Neutrality to War Entry

The first paragraph introduces the context of the United States' entry into World War I. Initially, the American public was against participating in what they saw as a European conflict in 1914. However, by 1917, the sentiment had shifted dramatically towards supporting the war. The paragraph sets the stage for exploring the factors that led to this change, including economic ties with the Entente powers, the impact of British naval blockades, and the role of American industries in supplying war materials. It also mentions the game 'Supremacy 1914' as a way for players to experience the war firsthand and the economic recovery of the US due to increased production for the war.

05:06
🚢 Submarine Warfare and the Lusitania Tragedy

The second paragraph delves into the strategic decisions of Germany during the war, particularly its use of submarine warfare. It discusses the impact of the British naval blockade on Germany's naval capabilities, leading to an increased reliance on submarines. The paragraph highlights the sinking of the RMS Lusitania, which resulted in the deaths of 128 Americans and caused public outrage. Despite this, President Woodrow Wilson pursued negotiations with Germany, leading to the Sussex Pledge, a commitment by Germany to restrict its submarine warfare. The paragraph also touches on the movement for military preparedness in the US and the National Defense Act, which aimed to expand the US military.

10:12
💸 Financial Ties and the Zimmermann Telegram

The third paragraph focuses on the financial ties between the US and the Entente powers and the infamous Zimmermann Telegram. It explains how the US became a significant lender to the Entente powers, leading to a vested interest in their victory. The Zimmermann Telegram, a secret communication proposing a military alliance between Germany and Mexico, was intercepted by the British and used to sway American public opinion against Germany. This, along with unrestricted submarine warfare, played a crucial role in shifting public sentiment towards supporting the war.

15:16
🏛 Declaration of War and the US's Newfound Global Role

The final paragraph describes the events leading to the US's official entry into World War I. President Wilson, after a series of German provocations including the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare and the Zimmermann Telegram, sought and obtained a declaration of war from Congress. The US emerged from the war as a major global power, with significant economic and military influence. The paragraph also mentions the financial boom in the US, the growth of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, and the shift in international investment focus towards Latin America. It concludes with a call to action for viewers to engage with the content and support the channel.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Entente Powers
The Entente Powers were the countries that opposed the Central Powers during World War I, primarily consisting of France, Russia, and the United Kingdom. In the video, the United States eventually enters the war on the side of the Entente Powers, which is a key turning point in the narrative.
💡Neutrality
Neutrality refers to a state's position of not taking sides in a war or conflict. President Woodrow Wilson initially declared American neutrality at the outbreak of WWI, as mentioned in the script, reflecting the U.S. policy before shifting public opinion and international events led to the U.S. entry into the war.
💡Naval Blockade
A naval blockade is a strategic operation that aims to cut off supplies and trade to an enemy nation by sea. The British naval blockade of the Central Powers is highlighted in the script as a significant factor that impacted the U.S. decision to enter the war, as it led to increased financial ties between the U.S. and Entente Powers.
💡Submarine Warfare
Submarine warfare involves the use of submarines to attack enemy vessels. The German decision to use submarines, including the sinking of the RMS Lusitania with the loss of American lives, is a pivotal event in the video, leading to increased tensions and ultimately contributing to the U.S. entry into WWI.
💡Zimmermann Telegram
The Zimmermann Telegram was a secret diplomatic message sent by Germany to Mexico proposing a military alliance. Its interception and publication by the U.S. swayed public opinion against Germany, as detailed in the script, and is portrayed as a critical factor leading to the U.S. declaration of war.
💡War Loans
War loans are funds provided to nations involved in conflict to finance their war efforts. In the script, it is mentioned that the U.S. loaned more money to the Entente Powers than to the Central Powers, which not only influenced the U.S. economy but also increased the stakes in the outcome of the war.
💡Military Preparedness
Military preparedness refers to the state of a country's readiness for war. The video discusses the movement for military preparedness in the U.S., which advocated for the build-up of naval and land forces, reflecting a shift in public sentiment and policy that eventually led to the U.S. entry into WWI.
💡RMS Lusitania
The RMS Lusitania was a British ocean liner that was sunk by a German U-boat in 1915, resulting in the deaths of 128 Americans. The incident is highlighted in the video as a significant event that outraged the American public and contributed to the U.S. decision to enter the war.
💡Sussex Pledge
The Sussex Pledge was an agreement made by Germany during WWI to limit its submarine warfare after the sinking of the Lusitania. The pledge is mentioned in the script as a temporary restraint on Germany's part, which was later abandoned, leading to further escalation and U.S. involvement in the war.
💡Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, serving during WWI. The video discusses his initial stance on neutrality and his eventual decision to lead the U.S. into the war, framing him as a central figure in the U.S.'s entry into WWI.
💡Supremacy 1914
Supremacy 1914 is a massively multiplayer online strategy game mentioned as the sponsor of the video. The game allows players to lead a country through World War I, which is relevant to the video's theme of exploring the reasons behind America's entry into the war.
Highlights

The US entered WWI on the side of the Entente powers, despite initial public opposition.

American public opinion shifted from opposition to strong support for entering the war within three years.

President Woodrow Wilson initially declared American neutrality at the outbreak of WWI.

Britain's naval blockade affected American trade, leading to increased financial ties with the Entente powers.

The US economy recovered during WWI, with a 32% increase in production by 1917.

The demand for American steel skyrocketed due to the war, reviving the industry post-1913 recession.

The US loaned more money to the Entente than the Central Powers, with J.P Morgan Bank as a significant lender.

German atrocities in Belgium were widely publicized in the US, influencing public sentiment.

The sinking of the RMS Lusitania by a German U-boat killed 128 Americans, causing public outrage.

Germany's resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare in 1917 led to the sinking of American vessels.

The Zimmermann Telegram, proposing a German-Mexican alliance against the US, was intercepted by the British.

Public opinion in the US was divided into three groups prior to the Zimmermann telegram.

The US government did not directly finance the Entente powers; instead, loans were syndicated by private banks like J.P Morgan.

The Siberian Intervention was partly motivated by financial interests, as Russia's indebtedness to the US grew.

President Wilson argued that the US was fighting for democracy, liberty, and freedom, and to end all wars.

After WWI, the US emerged as a significant trading nation and banking power, with New York rivaling London as a financial center.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue expanded, and income tax revenue increased 31 times its 1916 amount.

Approximately 22% of the US population subscribed to the Fourth Liberty Loan, indicating widespread public financial support for the war.

Transcripts

Browse More Related Video

Michael S. Neiberg - Why the US Entered the First World War and Why it Matters

Why did the US Join World War One? (Short Animated Documentary)

WW1 From the American Perspective | Animated History

Italy in World War 1 I THE GREAT WAR Special

World War 1, Explained in 5 Minutes!

Getting America into the Great War by Michael Neiberg

Rate This

5.0 / 5 (0 votes)

Thanks for rating:

Related Tags
WWI HistoryAmerican NeutralityEntente PowersSubmarine WarfareZimmerman TelegramEconomic RecoveryMilitary PreparednessPropaganda InfluenceLusitania TragedyDiplomatic RelationsGlobal FinanceSiberian InterventionWar DebtInternational RelationsStrategy GameOnline PvPWorld Power Shift