Standard 5.4 E.Q. How did the US get involved in World War 1? U.S. INVOLVEMENT IN THE WAR

 U.S. remained neutral at the outbreak of the war however various factors led to the failure of neutrality.  British Blockade: Traditional trading partnership with Great Britain and the blockade of German ports by the British navy severely limited American trade with Germany.  American businesses made loans to the Allies in order to continue trade. US VIEW

 Impacted by the traditional connection the British.  Did not want to get involved in European conflicts.  Against: Criticized the war as a capitalist plot; imperialist struggled between German and English support.  Believed that war was evil and that the US should set an example of peace.  For: Those who believed we had strong ancestral ties to Great Britain & those were that were concerned about our economy.  We tended to trade more with the Allied Powers than we did with the Central Powers. PUBLIC OPINION

 German U- Boats  Unterseeboot – the German word for submarine  Germany responded to the British blockade by sinking any ship found around Britain.  Lusitania  May 7 th 1915: German U – Boat sunk a British passenger liner.  128 Americans aboard drown  Germany defended their actions by saying that the ship was carrying weapons. LUSITANIA

 A telegram from the German foreign minister to the German ambassador in Mexico.  A telegram from Germany to Mexico promising the return of:  Texas  New Mexico  Arizona  If Mexico attacked the US, should the US enter the war. ZIMMERMAN NOTE

 American mobilized for war for 2 reasons:  TO ensure allied repayment of debts to the US.  Prevent the Germans from threatening US shipping.  The convoy system was used to guard ships against U-Boats. Americans were outraged at these German attacks. US DECLARES WAR

 Selective Service Act: Men were required to register for military service.  Russian Czar is overthrown.  This gives us a moral obligation.  Now supporters of American entry into the war could claim that this was a war of democracies against brutal monarchies because Russia’s oppressive monarchy was replaced. US DECLARES WAR