The United States Enters the War World War I The United States Enters the War

Causes of World War I M  Militarism A  Alliances I  Imperialism Building up armed forces, getting ready for war. A  Alliances Agreements or promises to defend and help another country I  Imperialism A stronger nation dominants a weaker one politically, economically, and militarily N  Nationalism Extreme pride in one’s nation, a willingness to defend it

Terrorist Attack Brings War June 1914  heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, visited Bosnia Gavrilo Princip shot and killed both the Archduke and his wife Assassin was a member of the Serbian nationalist group, the “Black Hand” Alliances are triggered and most of Europe is forced into war

Americans Take Sides German Americans and Irish Americans sympathized with the Central Powers Most Americans valued the similarities with Britain and respected the friendship with France US remained neutral for two years during the war “Preparedness”  preparing for war was the best way to stay out of the conflict Others urged the president to stay out of the war completely

Government Officials Back Britain President Wilson’s cabinet was strongly pro-British American military leaders believed that America must support the British in order to preserve the international balance of power Propaganda  information designed to influence opinion British controlled the flow of news to the US and cut the transatlantic telegraph cable so that most news had to come from Britain

Business Supports Britain Companies in US had strong ties to the Allied nations Thomas W. Lamont stated that American business would never be neutral and they must support the Allies American banks invested heavily in the Allied Powers

Moving Towards War Britain blockaded German ports and began to intercept neutral merchant ships sailing to Europe Ships had to be inspected for contraband, or goods prohibited from shipment to Germany Germany responded with unrestricted submarine warfare 1915  Germany announced that they would sink any ship found in the waters around Britain Americans became outraged at this response

Germans Sink the Lusitania May 7, 1915  the British passenger ship entered the war zone A German submarine sank the ship, killing nearly 1200 passengers, including 128 Americans Sussex Pledge  promise that Germans would not sink any more merchant ships without warning Temporarily appeases the American people

United States Declares War Arthur Zimmermann, a German official, sent a telegram to the German ambassador in Mexico in January 1917 It asked if Mexico would agree to become an ally of Germany in a war against the US Telegram was intercepted by the American military February 1, 1917  Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare Germany believed that the United States would not be able to raise an army and transport it to Europe in time April 4, 1917  President Wilson and Congress officially declared war on Germany