US Neutrality (1914-1917) Flashcards
1
Q
Wilson’s Latin American Policy (Moral Diplomacy)
A
- The desire to do good would govern US policy
- Believed contact with the USA could only benefit others, US was morally superior
- Its diplomacy was governed by noble and benevolent principles
- US gave Columbia $20 million in reparations for the role the US played in encouraging the Panamanians to rebel form the Columbian rule, 1903
- Wilson went on to intervene many times in Latin America
2
Q
Wilsonianism & Idealism
A
- Wilson declared that cooperation with Latin America would only be possible with a ‘just’ government
- Oppose military dictatorship or revolutionary governments
- Goal in Latin America was “to support the orderly processes of just governemntbased upon law and not upon arbitrary or irregular forces”
- US forces would “shoot men until the learn to vote and rule themselves”
- Wilson fought against special concessions
- US interests built highways, bridges, airfields, hospitals and schools
3
Q
US Public Opinion
A
- Prevailing mood in the US that war in Europe had nothing to do with them
- 29 August 1914: 1,500 women marched in NYC in black robes to the beat of a drum in protest of WW1
- Wilson’s Secretary of State, William Jennings Bryan also began to organise campaigns against the war
4
Q
US Trade with the Allies
A
- Allies benefitted more than the Central Powers in terms of trade
- 1914: US exported $549 million worth of goods to Britain, showed a trading surplus of over $300 million
- Trade favoured Allies much more than Germans
- Trade with Allies stood at $3.2 billion by 1916
- US could hardly be seen as neutral
- 1918: Allies had borrowed nearly $7 billion from the USA which they would need to repay
- By the time of the peace settlement, Allies war debts totalled to $10.5 billion
5
Q
US Trade with the Central Powers
A
- US sold over $344 million worth of goods to Germany
- 1916: trade with Allies was 10 times more than trade with the Central Powers
- 1916: US trade with Germany was only 1% of what it had been in 1914
6
Q
The US, Britain & the Freedom of the Seas
A
- Laws of the sea allowed countries at war to blockade enemy ports and seize cargo classified as ‘contraband’
- Initially caused conflict between Britain and America as Britain began seizing US ships and confiscated their cargoes
- Britain declared many commodities, e.g. food, textiles, as contraband
7
Q
Germany & Unrestricted Submarine Warfare (Feb 1915)
A
- Germany declared British waters as a war zone, reserved right to sink any ship en route to Britain
- Destroyed merchant ships containing essential supplies
- Wilson responded immediately, would hold Germany responsible for the loss of any American lives on ships sunk by Germany
- William Jennings Bryan stated that they couldn’t expect to be safe from attack simply because of children/mothers presence
- German Embassy took out advertising campaigns in the US to warn Americans not to travel to Britain
8
Q
The Sinking of the Lusitania
A
- Controversy of unrestricted submarine warfare with the sinking of the British ship, Lusitania
- May 1915: 1,200 passengers, 128 Americans dead
- Wilson demanded Germany abandon the policy
- Bryan resigned as Secretary of State over the issue
- After another sinking in 1915, the Arabic, Germany agreed to abandon the unrestricted submarine warfare
