1. The Course of the War

2. I. United States Enters the War
Neutral nation
Impatience with Germany
Neutral nation - although people identified and agreed with allied powers, they still felt that the US should stay out of foreign affairs
Impatience with Germany
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare - any ship traveling in the waters around Great Britain was subject to attack by German submarines.
-Lusitania (1915) -was sunk killing 1200 people (120 of which were Americans)
-Americans complained bitterly to Germany and they agreed to stop unrestricted sub warfare
-by 1917 the Germans returned to unrestricted submarine warfare - they hoped that they could defeat the allies before the US entered the war
Zimmerman Note - February 1917
-secret note from German diplomat Arthur Zimmerman to officials in Mexico that stated the mexicans should attack the US and in return they would get Texas, Arizona and New Mexico
-April US declares war on the Central Powers

4. Lusitania Warning

5. The Zimmerman Note

6. II. The United States Enters the War
C. Congress declared war on April 6, 1917
1. Wilson: “The War to End All Wars”
2. Known as The Great War

7. III. Russia Exits the War
Russians are Disillusioned
B. Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
1. Angered by the number of casualties
2. Strikes and street demonstrations
3. March Czar abdicated throne
4. November radical socialists take over
March 3, 1918 officially pull out of the “Great War”
Russia surrendered Poland, Baltic Provinces, Ukraine, Finland, Caucasia

8. IV. The End of the War New German Offensive German Collapse
New German Offensive - didn’t have to worry about Russia,
Launched a major offensive in the west - advanced within 40 miles of the French capiltal
Lost 800,000 men
Americans came over and overran the central powers
B. German Collapse
1. Second Battle of the Marne
2. German were on the offensive
3. October of broke through Hindenburg line

9. IV. The End of the War C. November 1918
1. November 9 - Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates
2. November 11
a. New German Republic agreed to an armistice
b. later they sign a treaty for unconditional surrender