IAN Notes
This Column SHOULD BE WRITTEN IN THE MARGIN
/ Both of these columns go on front side of paper/right side of IAN
Stay Neutral
Section 2:
The United States
Tries to Stay Neutral
Section 3:
Challenges to the U.S.
Policy of Neutrality
Section 4:
Declare War
President Wilson’s decision to stay out of
1. Russia advanced into Germany and AustriaWorld War I in 1914 pleased many Hungary, but a German counterattack stopped the
Americans.
Russian advance.
2. Many felt Europe’s quarrels did not concern
2. Meanwhile, German troops rolled across
them. Also, as a neutral nation, the United
Belgium and into France.
States could make loans and sell supplies to
3. Allied armies stopped the advance, but not
both sides.
until German troops were within 30 miles of
Paris.
4. By the end of 1914, the war on the western
front had turned into a stalemate.
5. Neither side was able to knock out its
enemies, and yet neither side was willing to
sue for peace.
1. Because German U-boats continued to
1. On May 7, 1915, a German U-boat sank the
attack British and French ships carrying
British liner Lusitania, killing 1,198 people,
American passengers, Wilson threatened to
including 128 Americans.
break off diplomatic relations with Germany.
2. Even though the ship was carrying weapons
2. In the Sussex pledge, Germany agreed to
and ammunition, former president Theodore
spare all lives in attacks on merchant ships.
Roosevelt denounced Germany’s actions as
3. By agreeing to stop surprise attacks on
murder.
merchant ships, Germany was able to keep
3. President Wilson and others believed that
the United States from declaring war to
Americans should have the right to travel on
protect Americans’ right to travel on these
Allied passenger ships and that the United
ships.
States should vigorously protect that right.
1. One critic, Senator George Norris, argued
1. In early 1917, Germany announced it was
that the United States was going to war for
resuming unrestricted submarine warfare.
economic reasons only.
2. President Wilson responded by breaking off
1.
IAN Notes
The United States
Declares a “War to
End All Wars”
2. Another critic, Senator Robert LaFollette,
argued that the United States had gotten
itself into war because it failed to treat the
Allied and Central powers the same.
3. He urged the government to remain neutral.
diplomatic relations with Germany.
3. In late February that year, the British got
hold of the Zimmermann note.
4. This telegraph, sent in code to Mexico from
the German foreign minister.
5. Suggested that Germany would help Mexico
regain lost territory if Mexico became an ally
in the war against the United States.
6. In March, a revolution in Russia toppled the
czar’s government.
7. Without a dictatorship, Russia was a more
appropriate partner for the United States in
a war.