Scenarios for WWI w TR as POTUS

Which of these are plausible under President Theodore Roosevelt?

  • the war is averted entirely

    Votes: 2 5.1%

  • Germany cancels its invasion of Belgium

    Votes: 4 10.3%

  • US intervenes in 1914

    Votes: 12 30.8%

  • the Christmas Truce leads to the war ending sooner

    Votes: 5 12.8%

  • U-boats are prohibited from targeting US ships (no Lustintina)

    Votes: 4 10.3%

  • Lustintina disaster happens, leading to US intervention in 1915

    Votes: 17 43.6%

  • Roosevelt's active diplomacy helps end the war by the end of his term (in 1916)

    Votes: 12 30.8%

  • the US stays out of the War entirely (can be due to a "distraction" in Mexico, etc)

    Votes: 7 17.9%

  • the US gets involved in 1917, about the same time as OTL

    Votes: 4 10.3%

  • other (explain)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    39

John Fredrick Parker

Donor
What are some scenarios for how WWI could develop that are made (more) plausible with Theodore Roosevelt as US President? (PoD is him getting GOP nomination in 1912)

CONSOLIDATION: I should probably clarify -- "Roosevelt's active diplomacy helps end the war by the end of his term" should be taken to mean the war ends in either 1915 or 1916; any possibility of the war ending in the first six months should be be voted under the Christmas Truce option...
 
Last edited:

The Space Viking

Banned
I think the PoD is early enough to change WWI from the one we know to an unrecognizable "Great War". Maybe not by much, but still enough to change things.
 

Shaby

I opted for war ending with Christmas truce. I think he would actively interfere diplomatically to the point of perhaps sending American cruiser squadron to Antwerp to prop up Belgium. This would certainly give pause to Germans and perhaps lead to the ending of war then and there.
 

yourworstnightmare

Banned
He will invade Germany himself and punch the Kaiser in the face. And because he's TR the US intervention in WW1 will be awesome and not lame. Because everything TR does is awesome, while everything Woodrow Wilson did was lame.
 

John Fredrick Parker

Donor
Looks like the US intervening early (whether in 1914 from the start, or in 1915 due to the Lusitania disaster) is a popular idea. Anyone want to expand on how it could play out, and what the effects would be?
 

Shaby

I'll try.

Sept. 1st News leak out of University Library in Leuven being burnt.
During first week of September outrage follows. Roosevelt makes passionate speech in front of Congress. He calls on USA to intervene in conflict. Reluctantly, Congress agrees. US Navy mobilized.

End of September, Navy is ready. USS South Carolina and USS Michigan, esorted by four cruisers of Tennessee class and various auxiliary vessels set sail on November 1st, while the rest of fleet prepare.
They reach European Coast in two weeks. German government notified that US demands immediate cease fire. Representatives of all powers are invited to Washington to discuss peace terms. Roosevelt puts his 10 points demands, among which are respect of neutrality, freedom of seas and respect of sovereignty of nations. His demands are hailed by Entente, scorned by Central Powers.

US fleet arrives to North Sea and request is sent to allow approach to Antwerpen. Germany remains quiet.

German fleet sails out and demonstrates in front of American fleet. As Royal navy approaches, they are warned off by Americans in order to avoid incidents. Under pressure of US and Royal Navy, Germany retreats fleet.

Diplomatic impasse goes on for weeks with mutual accusations flying around from CP and Entente representatives.

December 15th America finishes mobilization of troops. Representatives of Denmark and Dutch are invited to White House and asked if they will allow US marines to be deployed to their territory to protect them against potential German aggression. They agree.

At Christmas eve soldiers spontaneously get out of trenches. It becomes more massive than in OTL. Governments get caught in this and agree to American demands. Negotiations start.
 

Mikestone8

Lusitania draws a ferocious note to Germany, even tougher than Wilson's. As OTL, Germany backs down.

Germany keeps her nose clean through 1915 and 1916, but by 1917 is desperate enough to risk it and gamble that US intervention will come too late to matter. USW proclaimed as OTL.

TR doesn't mess about with half measures like "armed neutrality", so war is declared in February instead of April.

There is just an outside chance that entanglement in Mexico will keep TR from intervening in Europe, but that sounds a very long shot.
 
Last edited:

BlondieBC

Banned
TR keeps the USA out of war for a backdoor reason. TR is more militaristic, so i believe he would increase the size of the USA army. He likely fights a war with Mexico, so by 1916 the USA will have a 1 million man army with some combat experience. Because the USA now has an army, Germany will not resume unrestricted submarine warfare because the USA will be seen as able to bring sizeable forces to France in 1918.
 

Mikestone8

BTW, the fifth option really needs rewording.

The Lusitania was not a US ship, though it had some American passengers aboard. No US ships were sunk before 1917.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top
Top