Notes

 In 1917 the Germans intensified the war in the Atlantic using submarines  Announced they would sink any ship in the water around Britain  This was called unrestricted submarine warfare  Germany sank three American ships which led America closer to war  The final straw came with the Zimmerman Letter  A letter to Mexico  Said Germany would help Mexico “reconquer” the land Mexico had lost to the United States if they would ally with the Germans and keep the US out of the war

 President of the USA  14 Points = document giving 14 points to ensure peace after WWI’s end  Self-determination  League of Nations

 Desire to “get back at Germany” = reparations (132 billion gold marks)  Germany had to accept war blame  Led to lasting anger towards the other European nations  Resulted in the fall of the current government and rise of Adolf Hitler  Wilson’s 14 Points not really followed

 8 million Europeans died  7 million were permanently disabled  15 million were seriously injured  60 million entered the war  50% were either killed or injured  At the beginning of the war the exchange rate for German Marks to US Dollars was 4.2marks=1 dollar  After the war 1 dollar= 4.2 trillion marks

 Organization to promote cooperation & peace  Always weak (USA didn’t join)  No military backing = ineffective