Unit Objective Analyze when or even if America should have entered WWI American Entry to WWI Unit Objective Analyze when or even if America should have entered WWI

America did not enter the war until 1917—why not sooner? 1.) PRESIDENT WILSON WANTED AMERICA TO BE A MODEL OF PEACE, SO HE TRIED TO KEEP AMERICA OUT OF WAR (GOT RE-ELECTED BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN SUCCESSFUL DURING FIRST TERM)

2.) MOST AMERICANS THOUGHT THE WAR HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH AMERICA   3.) MANY AMERICANS WERE OF GERMAN OR IRISH DESCENT AND EITHER DID NOT WANT TO ENTER WAR AGAINST THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN (GERMANY) OR ON SAME SIDE AS BRITAIN (IRISH)

Why did America finally decide to enter the war? Naturally drawn to the British side: Shared a common background and ethnicity, were allies, were completely dependent on the British for information about the war because they had cut the Trancontinental Cable Statements made by leader of Germany (Kaiser Wilhelm II):   He made several war-like aggressive statements about America

Invasion of neutral Belgium: AMERICANS FELT BAD FOR POOR PATHETIC BELGIUM   Stories of German war atrocities: BAD ACTS ALLEGEDLY COMMITTED BY GERMANY-EXAGERATED BY BRITISH?

U-Boar Warfare German unrestricted U-Boat warfare (This is an ID) U-BOATS (SUBS) WOULD SINK SHIPS WITHOUT WARNING, INCLUDING U.S. SHIPS

Sinking of the Lusitania, MAY, 1915:   Germans sank it, over 100 Americans killed; Seen as violation of war rules, but British were violating them too by transporting war materials purchased from America on board

Sussex Pledge GERMANS PROMISED TO STOP SINKING SHIPS FROM NEUTRAL NATIONS

A U-Boat and the Lusitania

Interception of the Zimmermann Note (message that was sent from Germany to Mexico; It was intercepted by the British and passed on to the U.S.): GERMAN OFFER TO MEXICO TO ATTACK U.S. IN RETURN FOR LAND LOST TO U.S. DURING MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR  

Germany resumed unrestricted U-Boat warfare:   PRESIDENT WILSON FINALLY DECIDED TO ASK CONGRESS FOR DECLARATION OF WAR THIS WAS THE SPARK THAT GOT AMERICA INTO WWI (NOT U-BOAT WARFARE ON ITS OWN)

Impact of America on the war America entered the war just before Russia left it due to the Bolshevik Revolution America supplied a fresh supply of troops (so fresh they were nicknamed the “Doughboys”) and saved the Allies from certain defeat Germany underestimated how strong America was and how quickly America could mobilize its forces America sent most of its forces to the Western Front to help Britain and France—very few U.S. troops went to the Eastern Front to help the Russians