Lecture Notes on The Creature from Jekyll Island - Chapter 12: Sinking the Lusitania

Introduction

• Speaker: John The Morgue
• Chapter Focus: Chapter 12 titled "Sinking the Lusitania"
• Previous Chapter: Illustrated discussions from Chapter 11 on the Rothschild Formula

Overview of Chapter 12

• Main Topics:
  • Role of JP Morgan in World War I
  • Economic interests tied to the war
  • The Lusitania incident as a catalyst for US entry into the war

Background to World War I

• Trigger: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, not the main cause
• Underlying Causes:
  • Rothschild Formula and political climate control
  • Rivalries over territories and trade routes
  • Arms race and military preparedness

Role of JP Morgan

• Financial Involvement:
  • Loans to England and France via Morgan's bank
  • Operating as purchasing agents for war materials
  • Earning commissions on both financial flows
  • Investment in production companies benefitting from war contracts

Financial and Political Maneuvering

• British and French Debt:
  • Heavy reliance on American loans for war effort
  • Pressure to ensure Allied victory to secure financial interests
• Morgan's Influence:
  • Fostering war economy in Wall Street
  • Influence over media to shape public opinion

The Lusitania Incident

• Ship Details:
  • British passenger liner with military features
  • Used to transport contraband war materials
  • German warnings ignored by US government
• Sinking Event:
  • Sunk by a German U-boat
  • Major internal explosion contributing to rapid sinking
  • Loss of 195 American lives used to sway public opinion

Political and Military Context

• British Strategy:
  • Manipulation of naval actions to provoke US entry into war
  • Churchill's role in goading Germany
• US Neutrality and Subsequent Entry:
  • Secret agreements pushing US towards war
  • Wilson's administration's covert support for Allied powers

Aftermath and Implications

• Impact on US:
  • Shift in public opinion towards supporting war after Lusitania
  • Financial measures including Federal Reserve's role in war funding
  • The war effort financed significantly through inflation
• Historical Reflection:
  • Controversial tactics and moral implications
  • Discussion on the political and economic motivations behind US involvement

Conclusion

• Reflects on the intersection of financial interests, political maneuvers, and military actions leading to US involvement in World War I.