Figure 1.--Boys around the world often play war. We see boys in both the Allied countries and the Central Powers playing war. This was also the case in America during World War I, even when it was still neutral and largely pacifist. Before World War I, the theme may have been more cowboys and Indians--popular in books and the new movies. With the outbreak of World War I, this quickly became the popular theme. Here we see a 1916 illustration od boys at play in the popular 'Life Magazine'. The caption was, 'Aw Jimmy! go on! be a German!' The problem the boys faced when playing was who was going to be the Germans. No one wanted to play the Germans. The Germans had become so unpopular so early in the War that none of the boys wanted to play the dastardly Germans. Illustraror: John C. Conacher in 'Life Magazine' (February 24, 1916).

The one strongly held opinion in America with the outbreak of the War was that America should hold to its long term isolationist traditions. There were efforts to aid the starving Belgians and to negotiate a peaceful end of the conflict, but there was no interest in entering the War. German-Americans were not the only group opposed to entering the War. Here sympathy with Germany was combined with strongly held pacifist sentiment. Irish Amnericans with anti-British sentiments were also opposed to entering the War. German Americans were, however, the largest and most influential group. There was some support for Britain. The most outspoken propent was former President, Theodore Roosevelt. There was some sympathy with the Germans among the large German ethnic community, but the overwealming desire on the part of Americans was to stay out of the war. This does not mean that Americans were neutral concrning who launched the war or on the conduct of the war. From the very beginning, most Americans saw the Germans who invaded neurtral Belgium as the aggressor nation. Most Americans as a result of the German invasion of neutral Belgium amd midstreatment of Belgian civilians from the onset saw Germany as the major aggressor and a lawless nation. The American assessment of Germany only deteriorated as the War coninued. The reports of German attrocities in Belgium began to change the generally positive view that most Americans held of the Germans. This was an entirely new assessment. Before the War, Germany was an admired mation. Not only had America not had any diplomatic differences with Germany (unlike Britain), but the Germans had become the largest etnic group in America. These reports were inflated by British propaganda, but were not entirely false. And then there was a steady drip of war reports that steadily darkened the American view of Germany, including U-boat attacks on shipping, RMS Luisitania, the introduction of poison gas, and Zephlin bombing of cities. The German sinking of Lusitania and the rerrible loss of life cemented the new American assessment of Germany. The American assessment of Germany, however, did not mean that Ameicans wanted to go to war with Germany. Despite the public repulsion to German actions, most Americans wanted no part of the War.

Created: 7:27 PM 11/12/2015
Last updated: 7:27 PM 11/12/2015