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As I am not American, can anyone fill me in on what the high school kids are taught about their entry into WWI and WWII? Hmm... I've spent a modest amount of t

As I am not American, can anyone fill me in on what the high school kids are taught about their entry into WWI and WWII? Hmm... I've spent a modest amount of time studying WWI and WWII history on my own over the years since school, so it's a little hard for me to disambiguate what I remember from way back then, from things I've learnt more recently. But as best as I can recall, what we were taught in high school was basically: (main) reason for entering WWI: • the sinking of the Lusitania (main) reason for entering WWII: • the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor I don't think I learned about the Zimmerman telegram in high-school, or even college. I think I learned about that later. And I had never heard of the Black Tom Explosion until today.

fosco 6y ago
I was taught the main reason for WWI was the Zimmermann Note[ 0] but wikipedia has a pretty good article on this [1]. I wonder if I were school age now if I'd research teacher comments and ask more questions in school... education and being a teacher really is changing. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_entry_into_World_War_I https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_entry_into_World_War_... [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimmermann_Telegram https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimmermann_Telegram
jcranmer 6y ago
The main reason for WWI is usually given as German's unrestricted submarine warfare. The sinking of the Lusitania in 1915 (note the year!) prompted US complaints, which caused the Germans to make major changes in their submarine warfare rules. In 1917, Germany changed the rules again to resume unrestricted submarine warfare, and this was the casus belli that Wilson cited. Germany's move to resume unrestricted submarine warfare was a calculated gambit to try to push Britain, and then France, out of the war before the US could join the European theater. As part of this gambit, they tried to enlist Mexico as an ally to distract the US, hence the Zimmerman telegram--which was such a perfect note to enrage the US public that it was actually widely suspected to be a British intelligence plant. And we did cover all of this in both 7th and 11th grade US history in my school district.
- teorema 6y ago
  Our HS also covered things in the way you mention (German submarine warfare and espionage and the Zimmerman telegram), for what it's worth. The reasons for entry into WWII were presented as more complex, having to do with differences of opinion in the US regarding entry and so forth. For example, although Pearl Harbor was presented as a precipitating event, it wasn't really presented as the thing that led to US entry. The Lend-Lease Act, for example, was presented as a sort of indirect foray or entry path into the war; Pearl Harbor was presented as a last straw or a formal excuse, one that would have been triggered by Germany or Japan in some way or another if it weren't for Pearl Harbor.
- mcguire 6y ago
  There's a long, elaborate background story to the Zimmerman Telegram. It was written by a junior diplomat, signed off on by the foreign minister (who was preoccupied with growing military influence on the Kaiser to reintroduce unrestricted submarine warfare), blown up by British military intelligence led by a dude named "Blinker" Hall, and then didn't really do much about the entry into the war (Barbara Tuchman not withstanding). See The Zimmermann Telegram: Intelligence, Diplomacy, and America’s Entry into World War I by Thomas Boghardt for the whole story.
subsubzero 6y ago
edit: meant hearing about the Black Tom Explosion Same, I am really shocked this was never taught in either setting for me(US based). and wonder what is the rationale behind this but suspect its due to alot of things. It shows an attack on US soil at the most important US city, which damages the statue of liberty(a symbol of the US). I would love to know why this is not in every textbook in America when relating to WW1.
- mcguire 6y ago
  ??? The Zimmermann Telegram? "We intend to begin on the first of February unrestricted submarine warfare. We shall endeavor in spite of this to keep the United States of America neutral. In the event of this not succeeding, we make Mexico a proposal of alliance on the following basis: make war together, make peace together, generous financial support and an understanding on our part [Boghardt disagrees with this translation, giving a weaker "consent" rather than "understanding"] that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The settlement in detail is left to you. You will inform the President of the above most secretly as soon as the outbreak of war with the United States of America is certain, and add the suggestion that he should, on his own initiative, invite Japan to immediate adherence and at the same time mediate between Japan and ourselves. Please call the President's attention to the fact that the ruthless employment of our submarines now offers the prospect of compelling England in a few months to make peace. Signed, ZIMMERMANN" https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/Zimmermann-telegramm-offen.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/Zimmerma...
JauntTrooper 6y ago
We learned about the Zimmerman telegram in high school at my East Coast public school (11th grade Modern World History and 12th grade AP European History). I think a lot of the WW1 curriculum was focused on Europe and the events leading up to the war, the diplomatic entanglements, the senseless humanitarian disasters, and the impacts it had on the world with the Lost Generation.

fosco 6y ago

I was taught the main reason for WWI was the Zimmermann Note[ 0] but wikipedia has a pretty good article on this [1]. I wonder if I were school age now if I'd research teacher comments and ask more questions in school... education and being a teacher really is changing. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_entry_into_World_War_I https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_entry_into_World_War_... [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimmermann_Telegram https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimmermann_Telegram

jcranmer 6y ago

The main reason for WWI is usually given as German's unrestricted submarine warfare. The sinking of the Lusitania in 1915 (note the year!) prompted US complaints, which caused the Germans to make major changes in their submarine warfare rules. In 1917, Germany changed the rules again to resume unrestricted submarine warfare, and this was the casus belli that Wilson cited. Germany's move to resume unrestricted submarine warfare was a calculated gambit to try to push Britain, and then France, out of the war before the US could join the European theater. As part of this gambit, they tried to enlist Mexico as an ally to distract the US, hence the Zimmerman telegram--which was such a perfect note to enrage the US public that it was actually widely suspected to be a British intelligence plant. And we did cover all of this in both 7th and 11th grade US history in my school district.

teorema 6y ago
Our HS also covered things in the way you mention (German submarine warfare and espionage and the Zimmerman telegram), for what it's worth. The reasons for entry into WWII were presented as more complex, having to do with differences of opinion in the US regarding entry and so forth. For example, although Pearl Harbor was presented as a precipitating event, it wasn't really presented as the thing that led to US entry. The Lend-Lease Act, for example, was presented as a sort of indirect foray or entry path into the war; Pearl Harbor was presented as a last straw or a formal excuse, one that would have been triggered by Germany or Japan in some way or another if it weren't for Pearl Harbor.
mcguire 6y ago
There's a long, elaborate background story to the Zimmerman Telegram. It was written by a junior diplomat, signed off on by the foreign minister (who was preoccupied with growing military influence on the Kaiser to reintroduce unrestricted submarine warfare), blown up by British military intelligence led by a dude named "Blinker" Hall, and then didn't really do much about the entry into the war (Barbara Tuchman not withstanding). See The Zimmermann Telegram: Intelligence, Diplomacy, and America’s Entry into World War I by Thomas Boghardt for the whole story.

subsubzero 6y ago

edit: meant hearing about the Black Tom Explosion Same, I am really shocked this was never taught in either setting for me(US based). and wonder what is the rationale behind this but suspect its due to alot of things. It shows an attack on US soil at the most important US city, which damages the statue of liberty(a symbol of the US). I would love to know why this is not in every textbook in America when relating to WW1.

mcguire 6y ago
??? The Zimmermann Telegram? "We intend to begin on the first of February unrestricted submarine warfare. We shall endeavor in spite of this to keep the United States of America neutral. In the event of this not succeeding, we make Mexico a proposal of alliance on the following basis: make war together, make peace together, generous financial support and an understanding on our part [Boghardt disagrees with this translation, giving a weaker "consent" rather than "understanding"] that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The settlement in detail is left to you. You will inform the President of the above most secretly as soon as the outbreak of war with the United States of America is certain, and add the suggestion that he should, on his own initiative, invite Japan to immediate adherence and at the same time mediate between Japan and ourselves. Please call the President's attention to the fact that the ruthless employment of our submarines now offers the prospect of compelling England in a few months to make peace. Signed, ZIMMERMANN" https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/Zimmermann-telegramm-offen.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/Zimmerma...

JauntTrooper 6y ago

We learned about the Zimmerman telegram in high school at my East Coast public school (11th grade Modern World History and 12th grade AP European History). I think a lot of the WW1 curriculum was focused on Europe and the events leading up to the war, the diplomatic entanglements, the senseless humanitarian disasters, and the impacts it had on the world with the Lost Generation.