USA Joins the War Unit 6

The U.S. Enters the War The Germans announced a policy of Unrestricted Submarine Warfare- sink any ship near Britain. The US was neutral at the time and continued trading with Britain, Germany upset. American lives were being lost- German torpedoes were sinking ships in the Atlantic (ex. Lusitania in 1915, 128 Americans died), Pres. Wilson upset. The sinking of these ships, plus the Zimmerman note, would prompt the US to join the war. Lusitania was at one time disguised and repainted in order to not be detectable by German submarines. Lusitania was transporting weapons across the Atlantic. Much of what was on the ship was reported in a customs list (ammunition), but others think that there was contraband ammunition on board as well and that the British government doesn’t want anyone to know about it. Supposedly there were 2 major explosions on the ship- 1 from the only torpedo that Germany claims to have launched and a second that Germany claims had to have come from the secret contraband ammunition that the Lusitania was carrying which would have been illegal. Civilian ships could not carry heavy ammunition as it was illegal. Supposedly the British government tried to destroy the wreckage years ago by dropping underwater bombs upon the wreckage site. A man named Gregg Beamis owns the wreckage of the Lusitania.

Lusitania, British Passenger Ship

Lusitania, Today

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

President Woodrow Wilson

Zimmerman Telegram The British intercepted a telegram to the German ambassador in Mexico. Telegram asked Mexico to ally with Germany and start a war with the US to keep them distracted. Germany would give Mexico money and help them regain lost lands Pres. Wilson was outraged and this was the last straw- asked Congress to declare war against Germany (April 1917). The US joined the side of the Allies

Total War WWI was a total war- all aspects of the country were dedicated to the war effort. Rationing was a common practice- governments only allowed small amounts of food and supplies to be purchased. Propaganda also used to encourage people to support/join the war. Women worked the factories to make up for the men being gone.

Russia Withdraws from the War Civil unrest due to lack of food, supplies Czar Nicholas abdicated the throne By 1917- 5.5 million casualties Communist leader Lenin seized power & signed a truce with Germany (ends war March 1918) Germany can now focus on W. Front With U.S. help, the Central Powers were defeated. 11/11/1918 at 11 o’clock- Armistice signed to end the war. Veteran’s Day