America Joins the War

The British Blockade Britain used its powerful navy to blockade German ports – cutting supply line to weapons, military supplies and food Two results –American ships carrying goods for Germany could not read their destination, hurting American business –Germany was cut off from supplies and food, famine broke out in 1917 and 750,000 Germans died from starvation

German U-Boat

German U-boat Response German Submarines sank all ships traveling in British Waters Lusitania – sank by U-Boat which killed 128 Americans destined for Europe – US responded with outrage Germany later sank the Arabic and the Sussex killing more Americans, President Wilson warned US would break diplomatic relations if attacks did not stop

Lusitania

Germany temporarily agreed, but said if US could not convince Britain to lift blockade of food supplies, it would be force to continue submarine warfare Britain could not be convinced to end blockades Germany announced that U-Boats would sink all ships on sight regardless if hostile or neutral Wilson stunned – US would have to go to war to protect its ships and economic interests, would wait for “actual overt Acts”

Overt Acts Zimmermann Note – a telegram from the German foreign minister to the Berman ambassador in Mexico that was intercepted by British agents It proposed an alliance between Mexico and German and promised that if war with the US broke out, Germany would support Mexico in recovering “lost territory”

Russian Monarchy was replaced with a representative government – now supports of War could claim a war of democracy over brutal monarchies Congress passed a War Resolution in April of 1917 America will now send troops to Europe along with food, money and munitions