Tag Archives: WWI

Wilson and Sussex Pledge

Posted on June 28, 2010 by Barry

The document that I have linked here is then President Woodrow Wilson delivering  a speech to Congress on April 19, 1916 regarding the German attack on a French passenger ship called the Sussex.

Germany had a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare on armed ships but not passenger ships.  When the German U-Boats shot down the Sussex, the US had Germany make the Sussex Pledge which said that if Germany were to continue in this manner of firing on passenger ships, then the US would have no choice but to join the war in order to stop them.

In 1917, Germany felt that they could successfully destroy British shipping boats and end the war without the US having time to respond. They were very wrong. Upon the breaking of the Sussex Pledge, and a few other actions such as the Zimmerman note, the US joined World War I on the side of the Allies and Triple Entente.

The US was trying to maintain a stance of isolationism, but the Germans forced the US’s hand, and the US helped the Allies end the war.

http://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/Wilson_on_the_Sussex_Case

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League Of Nations

Posted on June 28, 2010 by David

League of Nations was established on February 14 1919 as a result of the First World War. It was spearheaded by the 26th President Woodrow Wilson in his famous ‘fourteen point’ speech.  The fourteen point plan outlined plans to reduce imperialism around the world, give colonies freedom and lay the foundations for the League of Nations. The main goals of the League of Nations was to establish international peace and not resort to wars.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-Uz0e4KJG0

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George Cohan’s “Over There”

Posted on June 26, 2010 by Ashraf Talukder

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/wbggEGUaE28" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

Over There is a patriotic song during World War I written by George M. Cohan, and it was widely performed by various artists from its publication in 1917. Notable early recordings include versions by Nora Bayes, Enrico Caruso, Billy Murray, initiated by Charles King. Cohan later recalled that the words and music to the song came to him while traveling by train from New Rochelle to New York shortly after the U.S. had declared war against Germany in April 1917 (firstworldwar.com). This song was a nationwide hit in the months immediately following America’s enthusiastic entry into the war. On June 29, 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt awarded Cohan the Congressional Gold Medal for this and other songs.

Listen to The Song (Credit:Vintage Audio, firstworldwar.com)

Enrico Caruso – Over There by Enrico Caruso, Nora Bayes – Over There by Nora Bayes, Billy Murray – Over There by Billy Murray

Your Song–Our Song–Our Boys' Song! Over There.

Johnnie, get your gun,
Get your gun, get your gun,
Take it on the run,
On the run, on the run.
Hear them calling, you and me,
Every son of liberty.
Hurry right away,
No delay, go today,
Make your daddy glad
To have had such a lad.
Tell your sweetheart not to pine,
To be proud her boy’s in line.

Johnnie, get your gun,
Get your gun, get your gun,
Johnnie show the Hun
Who’s a son of a gun.
Hoist the flag and let her fly,
Yankee Doodle do or die.
Pack your little kit,
Show your grit, do your bit.
Yankee to the ranks,
From the towns and the tanks.
Make your mother proud of you,
And the old Red, White and Blue.

Over there, over there,
Send the word, send the word over there –
That the Yanks are coming,
The Yanks are coming,
The drums rum-tumming
Ev’rywhere.
So prepare, say a pray’r,
Send the word, send the word to beware.
We’ll be over, we’re coming over,
And we won’t come back till it’s over
Over there.

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