BY HAYLEY RITTERHERN AND BLAINE RIEGER The United States Enters World War I

Attitudes of Americans The United States wished to stay out of WWI and remain neutral. Several actions led to the entering into WWI President Woodrow Wilson saw the threat that Germany posed to the word Even though the United States wished to remain neutral, this changed during the sinking of the Lusitania

Attitudes of Americans The real reason for the United State’s rage towards Germany was seen due to the publication of the Zimmerman Telegram The actions of Germany appalled both Woodrow Wilson, and the citizens of the United States

Economic Motivation U.S. had far stronger ties with Allies  Trade with Britain and France was more than double the trade with Germany  from 1914 to 1916 trade with the Allies grew from $ 825 million to $ 3.2 billion U.S. manufactured war supplies (dynamite, cannon power, submarines, armored cars) as per the orders of the Allies

Incidents/Provocations Propaganda  The United States, as did many nations during the war, used propaganda to promote a war effort or demonize an individual or group  This was an effective tactic seeing that many people were appealed to the visuals that they had to offer Yellow journalism  Yellow journalism differed much to the tactic of propaganda.  It is the falsification or twisting of the facts though publication for attention of the public  Most of the information was slanted towards one direction in a biased matter  Most of the information was misleading

Incidents/Provocations Lusitania  Germany declares unrestricted submarine warfare  German submarine sinks Lusitania (British Transportation vessel)  About 1,198 people died because of the sinking of the Lusitania; 200 of which were American Zimmerman Note  A note written from Germany to México  Encrypted, but the message was intercepted  Made US aware of Germany’s submarine warfare declaration  Support to México from Germany for Invasion of Unites States

Propaganda Source:

Propaganda Source:

Allies and Loyalties Many immigrants with many different opinions (Irish, German, French, Eastern European) Propaganda  Distrust of German immigants and reported incidents Commonalities with Great Britain (language, democracy, etc) – cultural brothers Join the Western nations’ fight against German dictatorship