America in WW1 World History 3201 October 2014

Q1: Why were the Americans determined to remain neutral in the conflict of WWI? The Americans viewed WW1 as the imperialistic ramblings of the ageing European nations

Q2: How were the Americans benefiting economically from the War in Europe? While the war raged on, the USA became increasingly rich & powerful, shipping produce & manufactured goods (war supplies) across the Atlantic

Q3:What events suddenly swayed American public opinion against Germany? In 1915, Germany declared the waters around Britain to be a war zone & began targeting Allied & neutral shipping with its fleet of U-boats

The shaded area represents the 1915 German War Zone around the British Isles

The British ocean-liner Lusitania was sunk by a German U-boat in May 1915 killing 128 Americans

Following the Lusitania sinking, US President Woodrow Wilson warned Germany that another such as would be interpreted as “deliberately unfriendly” Germany, not wanting to bring the USA into the war against them, loosened the blockade on Britain

Allied Blockade While the Germans had declared a war zone around the British Isles, the British were blockading the European continent This involved cutting off trade & preventing materials/food from reaching the Central Powers

In an attempt to end the stalemate, Germany sent the Zimmerman Telegram to Mexico: Told them they were about to start unrestricted submarine warfare Encouraged Mexico to attack US (and promised to help them ;) The US got wind of the telegram and declared war on Germany!

The drawback to the unrestricted submarine warfare was that it forced the USA to join with the Allies against Germany & the Central Powers

Q4:What was Germany’s motive behind the policy of unrestricted submarine warfare? In February 1917, Germany launched a campaign of unrestricted submarine warfare against the British in order to cut off their supply routes & force them into a surrender before the USA entered the war

Q5:Analyse the impact on the Allied war effort of the United States entry into the war. Millions of fresh troops & war materials became available to the Allies which became available

Q6: What event was the turning point for the Allies in WWI? It was the 2nd Battle of the Marne (July 1918) which saw German forces pushed back from the Marne River in France & it gave Allied forces the initiative along the Western Front

Think About These Q7:Evaluate the reasons for the “turning of the tide” in favour of the Allies in 1917-18. Q8:Evaluate the reasons for Germany’s defeat in WWI.