IB History Topic US & World War I Revision Notes (HL)

IB History Topic US & World War I Revision Notes (HL) | RevisionDojo

Background

When war broke out in Europe in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson declared U.S. neutrality, reflecting both isolationist traditions and economic pragmatism.
Yet, between 1914 and 1917, neutrality proved increasingly difficult to maintain. Economic interests, submarine warfare, and ideological factors gradually drew the U.S. into the First World War.
The conflict marked a decisive moment: the United States emerged as a global power, while Wilson’s postwar vision tested the limits of American internationalism.

Neutrality and Early Involvement (1914–1916)

The U.S. initially pursued a policy of neutrality, supplying both sides with goods while officially avoiding entanglement.
American banks and industries soon became heavily invested in the Allied Powers, especially Britain and France, through loans and trade in weapons, food, and raw materials.
The U.S. economy prospered, but neutrality increasingly tilted toward the Allies as British naval blockades restricted trade with Germany.
Public opinion favored peace but was divided: many Americans of German and Irish descent opposed involvement, while others were swayed by reports of German aggression in Belgium and unrestricted submarine warfare.

Case study

The Lusitania Crisis (1915)

On May 7, 1915, a German U-boat sank the British passenger liner RMS Lusitania, killing 1,198 people, including 128 Americans.
Germany defended the attack by claiming the ship carried war supplies, but the incident shocked U.S. public opinion.
Wilson demanded an end to unrestricted submarine warfare and warned that future violations would force the U.S. to act.
Although war was still avoided, the event deepened the moral divide between neutrality and intervention, and U.S. preparedness efforts began to expand.

Definition

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

A German naval strategy of sinking any vessel, including civilian ships (merchant and neutral vessels) in war zones without warning to cut supplies to the Allies.

Reasons for U.S. Entry into the War (1917)

Nice try, unfortunately this paywall isn't as easy to bypass as you think. Want to help devleop the site? Join the team at https://revisiondojo.com/join-us. exercitation voluptate cillum ullamco excepteur sint officia do tempor Lorem irure minim Lorem elit id voluptate reprehenderit voluptate laboris in nostrud qui non Lorem nostrud laborum culpa sit occaecat reprehenderit

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit.

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Background

When war broke out in Europe in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson declared U.S. neutrality, reflecting both isolationist traditions and economic pragmatism.
Yet, between 1914 and 1917, neutrality proved increasingly difficult to maintain. Economic interests, submarine warfare, and ideological factors gradually drew the U.S. into the First World War.
The conflict marked a decisive moment: the United States emerged as a global power, while Wilson’s postwar vision tested the limits of American internationalism.

Neutrality and Early Involvement (1914–1916)

The U.S. initially pursued a policy of neutrality, supplying both sides with goods while officially avoiding entanglement.
American banks and industries soon became heavily invested in the Allied Powers, especially Britain and France, through loans and trade in weapons, food, and raw materials.
The U.S. economy prospered, but neutrality increasingly tilted toward the Allies as British naval blockades restricted trade with Germany.
Public opinion favored peace but was divided: many Americans of German and Irish descent opposed involvement, while others were swayed by reports of German aggression in Belgium and unrestricted submarine warfare.

Case study

The Lusitania Crisis (1915)

On May 7, 1915, a German U-boat sank the British passenger liner RMS Lusitania, killing 1,198 people, including 128 Americans.
Germany defended the attack by claiming the ship carried war supplies, but the incident shocked U.S. public opinion.
Wilson demanded an end to unrestricted submarine warfare and warned that future violations would force the U.S. to act.
Although war was still avoided, the event deepened the moral divide between neutrality and intervention, and U.S. preparedness efforts began to expand.

Definition

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

A German naval strategy of sinking any vessel, including civilian ships (merchant and neutral vessels) in war zones without warning to cut supplies to the Allies.

Reasons for U.S. Entry into the War (1917)

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

Paper 1 - The Move to Global War6 subtopics

Paper 1 - Rights and Protest6 subtopics

Paper 1 - Conflict and Intervention6 subtopics

Paper 2 - Independence Movements5 subtopics

Paper 2 - Emergence and Development of Democratic States5 subtopics

Paper 2 - Authoritarian States7 subtopics

Paper 2 - Causes and Effects of 20th Century Wars4 subtopics

Paper 2 - The Cold War: Superpower Tensions and Rivalries4 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of Europe18 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of the Americas18 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of Asia and Oceania18 subtopics

IB History US & World War I Notes

Paper 1 - The Move to Global War6 subtopics

Paper 1 - Rights and Protest6 subtopics

Paper 1 - Conflict and Intervention6 subtopics

Paper 2 - Independence Movements5 subtopics

Paper 2 - Emergence and Development of Democratic States5 subtopics

Paper 2 - Authoritarian States7 subtopics

Paper 2 - Causes and Effects of 20th Century Wars4 subtopics

Paper 2 - The Cold War: Superpower Tensions and Rivalries4 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of Europe18 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of the Americas18 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of Asia and Oceania18 subtopics

Background

Neutrality and Early Involvement (1914–1916)

The Lusitania Crisis (1915)

Reasons for U.S. Entry into the War (1917)

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Background

Neutrality and Early Involvement (1914–1916)

The Lusitania Crisis (1915)

Reasons for U.S. Entry into the War (1917)

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account