The US Enters WWI CHAPTER 6 SECTION 1

Woodrow Wilson’s Diplomacy  Wilson promoted moral democracy  He opposed imperialism  Essential to the nations stability and prosperity  Wilson gets involved in the Mexican Revolution  1911 a rev had broke out in Mexico  Which forced out the Mexican dictator Porfirio Diaz  Mexican people were very poor and unhappy with their conditions

Mexican Revolution  This places Francisco Madero into power  Who is then overthrown by Victoriano Huerta  Wilson did not recognize Huerta as president  Wilson as a part of his diplomacy believes the US should intervene  He believed that it was our responsibility to put good people into power and decide which govts were good  * Moral Obligation  Wilson allows Americans to provide arms to support other political groups  1914 Amer. Sailors are captured and released but Wilson uses this as a n excuse to attack Huerta  Carranza becomes Mexico's president  Mex. Forces opposed the new pres, and Pancho Villa leads a group of guerrillas –burns down Columbus New Mexico

Mexican Revolution  Wilson sends in troops, John Pershing attempts to capture Villa but is unsuccessful  Wilson becomes more concerned with the war in Europe and recalls Pershing’s troops  Hurts Wilsons reputation internationally –especially with Britain and Latin America  Wilson during his term sent troops into Nicaragua, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic  Do these actions reflect his policy of moral democracy or his opposition to imperialism?

Europe Goes to War  Nationalism- feeling of intense national pride of ones homeland  Self determination- the idea that people who belong to a nation that should have its own country and govt  Europe goes to war after the assassination of the archduke Franz Ferdinand  What countries are fighting and what alliances are formed?

American Neutrality  Americans take two sides  Recent immigrants particularly Germans support their homeland  Irish immigrants also support the Germans  Many Americans were pro Britain/France  British propaganda- info designed to influence opinion  Business interests- east coast business heavily tied with Britain  Wilson’s cabinet and military leaders backed the British  American banks invested heavily in an Ally victory

Moving Toward War  Britain deployed their navy to bloke Germany from obtaining supplies  Germany knew that Britain and the Allies depended on trade with the US  Germany sent their U-boats to get around the British blockade and force a surrender  Germany ended up attacking multiple civilian vessels which outraged Americans  May 7, 1915 Germany attacked the British passenger liner Lusitania killing 1200 including 128 Americans  Wilson continued attempts at diplomacy with Germany and sent several more warnings  Wilson at the time was distracted with the crisis in Mexico  Sussex Pledge- Germany along with other conditions would no longer sink merchant ships without warning  This kept the US neutral and out of the war, but only for a short time

The United States Declares War  Wilson’s ability to keep the US out of war gains him reelection  German official Arthur Zimmermann cabled the ambassador in Mexico  He proposes an alliance, in return Mexico would gain its lost territory in Texas, new Mexico and Arizona  British intercept this Zimmermann telegram, and leak it to the US  Americans are infuriated with Germany, and want War  1917 along with the resumed German submarine warfare and American sentiment toward Germany finally pushed Wilson to ask congress to declare war  By April 6, 1917 America was at war with a majority vote in the senate and house