America Goes to War

Neutrality Policy 1.Saw no need to enter the conflict 2.Germans had been stopped by the Allis in their first advance – appeared not to need our help 3.Am. Foreign policy was not to get involved in European business 4.Against Progressive Movement Fear that entry in the war would end movement 5.Some did not want their sons to see horrors of war 6.Divided Nation English supported Allis Irish supported Germany – hopes of independence German sympathized with Central Powers

Majority Sympathized with the Allis common language and customs German seems the aggressor 1.Attack on Belgium 2.Use of U-boats In the end 1.ties of heritage, 2.Economic ties 3.course of war decided the American position

The War Hits Home

During the first two years of the war, America was providing (selling) the allied forces war material Both the Germans and British imposed naval blockades on each other The Germans used U-boats (submarines) to prevent shipments to the North Atlantic Any ship found in the war zone (waters around Britain) would be sunk

German U-boats (Unterseeboot) Designed for sneak attacks UC 44 Class U-boat: 1) Aft torpedo tubes 2) Electric motor 3) Main engine 4) Control room 5) Mine tubes 6) Forward torpedo tubes 7) Crew quarters

The Lusitania Disaster United States involvement was hastened by the Lusitania disaster The Lusitania was a British passenger liner that carried 1,198 persons A German U-boat sank the British passenger liner killing all aboard including 128 American tourists The Germans claimed the ship was carrying Allied ammunition Americans were outraged and public opinion turned against Germany and the Central Powers May 7, 1915

America Edges Closer to War

Zimmermann Telegram British government gave Wilson an intercepted telegram From Arthur Zimmermann, German foreign minister to the German ambassador in Mexico It proposed an alliance with Mexico Mexico declares war against US Germany help Mexico regain lost land

Russia Pulls out Without the czar United States could fight for democracy Against the Kaiser And make the “world safe for democracy”

Wilson’s address to Congress “With a profound sense of the solemn and even tragic character of the step I am taking, and of the grave responsibilities involved, but in unhesitating obedience to my constitutional duty, I advise Congress to declare that the recent course of the German Government is nothing less than war against the United States, and that the United States accept the status of a belligerent which has been thrust upon it, and will take immediate steps to put the country into a thorough state of defense, and to exert all her power and resource in bringing Germany to terms, and in ending the war.” Woodrow Wilson President of the United States of America April 3 rd 1917

Why US went to war Freedom of the Seas Make world safe for Democracy Help shape Europe after war