User:Atcovi/VA and US History/WWI

WWI

 * 1914-1918
 * Nationalism
 * Militarism
 * Alliances

"The Spark"
In Sarajevo, Archduke Ferdinand and his wife were touring the city when Garello Principe, a Serbian nationalist, assassinated him.

America's Neutrality

 * Role of Women
 * US avoided involvement fro 3 years.

America backs up the "Entente" (England, France, Russia), our allies. Culturally, America is similar to England rather than the Central Power alliance. America also trades more with the Entente group and British propaganda is spreading across America.

Lusitania
May of 1915, British ship Lusitania is sunk and is shot down near England's coast. There were many American soldiers on this boat, who died as a result of the German's attacks. This attack brought out the Sussex Pledge, which was a promise by the Germans that they will not attack ships without any prior warnings.

Politics and WWI

 * 1916 Election: Wilson (D) runs on the platform of "Preparedness."
 * "He Kept Us Out of War"
 * Congress passed the National Defense Act, June 1916, which increased size of standing army and navy.
 * "Peace without Victory"
 * 1917: Wilson asserts that when peace is negotiated, it should be fair/equal to all nations.

Declaration of War

 * Zimmerman Telegram

Recruiting an Army

 * Wilson signs the Selective Service Act, which makes a man between the ages of 18-30 MUST register for the draft. 24 million people register, and only 10% (2.8 million) have been drafted. 2 ways to get out of the draft:
 * 1) Health Condition
 * 2) Conscientious Thinker (Quakers)

Training was changed from 3 months to 3 weeks.