US Enters WWI

US Enters WWI

by Timothy Ross

​E.Q. Why did the US government change its foreign war policy of neutrality and enter into WWI?

​Blockade

• ​ Britain used it's naval power to block Germany from moving supplies during the war.

  Blockade: To seal off or prevent imports and exports from entering a country or territory.

Open Ended

How can blockades be useful to a country during a war? What was the impact of Britain's Blockade on Germany?

​Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

• ​ U-Boat: German submarine.

  Germans responded to British blockade by using U-boats with torpedoes

  German Warning - “any ship” in the waters around Britain would be torpedoed (Unrestricted Submarine warfare)

  Germans declare unrestricted submarine warfare

  Germany sunk the British liner (passenger ship) Lusitania. Almost 1200 died including some Americans.

​Sussex Pledge

• ​The German government signed the so-called Sussex Pledge (May 6, 1916)

• As a part of the pledge, Germany promised to stop indiscriminate sinking of non-military ships

• ​Merchant ships would be searched and destroyed if war materials were found on the ship

Open Ended

How do you think the sinking of the Lusitania effected US public opinion of Germany?

​Elections of 1916

• ​In a very tight presidential race between Woodrow Wilson and Charles Hughes, Wilson's platform included the slogan "He kept us out of war"

• ​Wilson won the presidential election.

Open Ended

What did the election of 1916 reveal about US citizens at the time?

​The US Mobilizes

• ​President Woodrow Winston had stressed U.S. neutrality and despite diverse cultural background, urged America to do the same.

  1917, America mobilized for war.

• Mobilize: Act of preparing military and supplies for war.

  U.S. is focused on getting paid for supplies it has already sold and the constant threat to US shipping be the Germans.

Open Ended

Do you think it was wise for America to begin to mobilize? Explain

​I Declare War!

• ​ Wilson urged "a peace without victory"

  Nations at war were unwilling to end the war.

  German Kiser announced ‘unrestricted submarine warfare’. Ships hostile or neutral would be attacked.

  Zimmermann Telegram: Note from Germany to Mexico to attack the US if the US engaged in WWI.

Open Ended

Read the telegram. What is Germany proposing to Mexico?

Open Ended

Write a summary about why the US decided to enter WWI (1917).