Should The U.S. Enter the War? World War 1

Europe is at war. The United States is sitting on the sidelines… Warm Up Questions Europe is at war. The United States is sitting on the sidelines… 1. Under what circumstances should the U.S. get involved? 2. Should we trade with each side/only one or none at all? 3. What action, if any, should we take if American lives are lost? 4.Since America is made up of both English and German immigrants – how should/will they react if and when we get involved in the war?

While the war in the Western Front (France) dragged on in the trenches, the war on the Eastern Front remained brutal. By 1917, the Russians had lost over 5.5 million men to death, injury, or prisoner of war.

What countries are considered to be on the “Eastern Front”? In which part of Russia is the area of most unrest and resistance?

Complete Worksheet: Should the U.S. Enter WWI? At the same time Russia leaves the war, the United States enters the war…why do you think they retreated from their policy of isolationism?

January 1917, Germany announces Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

In March 1915, German submarines sunk the British ship the Lusitania, killing 128 U.S. citizens.

U-Boats Sink the Lusitania in 1915 Film Clip: U-Boats Sink the Lusitania in 1915 http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/world-war-i-history/videos/u-boats-sink-the-lusitania-in-1915

The British decoded the telegram and gave it to the USA. On April 2, 1917, President Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany. In February 1917, the British intercepted a telegram from the German foreign minister, Arthur Zimmerman, to the German ambassador in Mexico City. The British decoded the telegram and gave it to the USA.

Check for Understanding What do you predict was the major reason why the United States changed it’s foreign policy of isolationism to interventionism?