Feb 9,09

Chapter 23
-June 28, 1914-Bosnia-When a Bosnian national assassinated Archduke Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria Hungary, Austria-Hungary responded by declaring war on Serbia

_Intricate series of treaties divided Europe into 2 camps
-Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy- Triple Alliance- promised to be alliance if attacked
-Italy then opted out and replaced by the Ottoman Empire.
-Other side is triple Entente w/ Britain, France, and Russia
-Russia is bound to defend Russia against Austria-Hungary

-Russia mobilizes to Serbia's Aid, Germany mobilized to protect Austria from Russia, Germany struck not at Russia, but at France. Brits declare war or Germany.

Victory is not swift
-Wilson calls it a Euro war and neutral
-Wilson proclaims US neutrality and set out to continued to trade with the Brits

Neutrality is difficult
-Americans are culturally similar to Brits, stronger trading ties.
-Brits and France asked us for supplies. Begin to give loans to Brits and France. Effectiveness of British naval blockade of German ports further reduced US trade with Germany

-US compromised its neutrality by failing to protect its right to trade with Germany.

Early 1915-Germany responded to this by using U-boat. Calls its usage "unrestricted submarine warfare" to sink enemy ships going to Britain.

-May 7, 1925, Brit passenger Ship Lusitania is sunk by German Submarine-1198 people killed. 128 Americans died.
-sinking occurs without warning
-Germany alleged that they were bringing munitions to Britain allegations were true
-Germany had warned Americans not to travel on British ships carrying weapons

-Pres Wilson only denounced the sinking of neutral ships instead of also denouncing British blockade of Germany from US merchant ships. Tells Germans not to ever launch attack of neutral citizens.

-Brief lull in U-boat activity- Early 1916, allies arm merchant ships w/ Guns and Depth Charges
-Germany responds w/ renewed U-boat activity
-Sinks Sessex, a french ship, with heavy losses of life including Americans
-Germany relented when Wilson threatened to break diplomatic relations.
-Sussex pledge-Germany promises to stop sinking merchant vessels without warning
-Want US to also press Britain to have no blockade on US ships.
-Wilson says yes to first but ignored the second

-Wilson, peace initiative in Jan. 1916. House-Grey memorandum Britain agree to ask US to negotiate a settlement of the war
-Brits drop out when Wilson makes clear, it is an open impartial peace, not pro-Brits
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-Keeps US out of war
-1916-reelected Wilson on "kept us out of war" slogan

-early 1917-Germs decide to throw full mil weight on France and British. It can do that because it knows about the change in government in Russia and they know there is no threat.
Jan 31-Announces resumption of "unrestricted Submarine Warfare"
Feb 1st- Next day, Wilson breaks diplomatic relations with Germans

Zimmerman Telegram-Germans tell its Mex Ambassador to tell Mexico to attack US if US goes to war against US. If we win, you get money and all the land you lost to the US.
-Brits intercept the letter-share with the US
-Wilson goes to congress- gets Dec of War against Germany in order to have safe Democracy in Europe(Russia)April 6,1917.

Russia
-Gov of Tsar is overthrown
_interior gov was set up
_in nov 1917, Lenin pulls off Bolshevik revolution and brings Communists to power. Pulls Russia out of War
-Wilson sets up 14 point plan of what world looks like after war
-Germany launches massive offensive in March and April just as American troops arrive in France. German offensive grounds to a halt.
-Armistice is declared in Nov 1918