Ap Us History - Chapter 30 Outline
War by Act of Germany
-To defend American interests short of war, the president asked Congress for authority to arm American merchant ships. -An obstruction of Midwestern senators was a reminder of the continuing strength of American isolationism.
-The Zimmermann note was intercepted and published on March 1, 1917, infuriating Americans, especially westerners. -German foreign secretary Arthur Zimmermann had secretly proposed a German-Mexican alliance, tempting Mexico with veiled promises of recovering Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
-On the heels of this provocation came the overt acts in the Atlantic, where German U-boats sank four unarmed American merchant vessels in the first two weeks of March. -Simultaneously came the news that a revolution in Russia had toppled the regime of the tsars. -America could not fight foursquare for democracy on the side of the Allies, without Russian despotism in the Allied fold.
-On April 2, 1917, Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war. -He had lost his gamble that America could pursue the profits of neutral trade without being sucked into the maelstrom.
-A myth developed in later years that America was dragged into war by munitions makers and Wall Street bankers, desperate to protect their profits and loans. -Yet, the weapons merchants and financiers were already thriving. -Their slogan might well have been "Neutrality Forever."
-The truth is that British harassment of American commerce had been galling but endurable; Germany had resorted to the mass killing of civilians. -The difference was like that between a gang of thieves and a gang of murderers.
-President Wilson had drawn a clear line against the depredations of the submarine. -The German high command chose to cross it.
Wilsonian Idealism Enthroned
-It was fearful to bring America to war because of the formidable challenge it posed to Wilson's leadership skills. -Ironically, it fell to Wilson to shatter one of the most sacred of
-To defend American interests short of war, the president asked Congress for authority to arm American merchant ships. -An obstruction of Midwestern senators was a reminder of the continuing strength of American isolationism.
-The Zimmermann note was intercepted and published on March 1, 1917, infuriating Americans, especially westerners. -German foreign secretary Arthur Zimmermann had secretly proposed a German-Mexican alliance, tempting Mexico with veiled promises of recovering Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
-On the heels of this provocation came the overt acts in the Atlantic, where German U-boats sank four unarmed American merchant vessels in the first two weeks of March. -Simultaneously came the news that a revolution in Russia had toppled the regime of the tsars. -America could not fight foursquare for democracy on the side of the Allies, without Russian despotism in the Allied fold.
-On April 2, 1917, Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war. -He had lost his gamble that America could pursue the profits of neutral trade without being sucked into the maelstrom.
-A myth developed in later years that America was dragged into war by munitions makers and Wall Street bankers, desperate to protect their profits and loans. -Yet, the weapons merchants and financiers were already thriving. -Their slogan might well have been "Neutrality Forever."
-The truth is that British harassment of American commerce had been galling but endurable; Germany had resorted to the mass killing of civilians. -The difference was like that between a gang of thieves and a gang of murderers.
-President Wilson had drawn a clear line against the depredations of the submarine. -The German high command chose to cross it.
Wilsonian Idealism Enthroned
-It was fearful to bring America to war because of the formidable challenge it posed to Wilson's leadership skills. -Ironically, it fell to Wilson to shatter one of the most sacred of