1. Explain the causes of WWI in 1914 and the reasons for the initial
World War I- -Lesson 2
Standards
U.S. 26
Explain the causes of WWI in 1914
and the reasons for the initial
declaration of U.S. neutrality.
U.S. 27
Justify with supporting detail from text, the reasons
for American entry into WWI, including the use of
unrestricted submarine warfare by the Germans, the
Zimmermann Note, the defense of democracy, and
economic motivations.

2. Objectives
TSW explain circumstances around the U.S. attempt
at neutrality in WWI.
TSW explain in detail events which forced the U.S.
to enter WWI.
TSW consider different points of view concerning
U.S. involvement in WWI.

3. America
Enters
The War
Pg. 291
Gary
J.B.
Jason
Serena
Devonte
Grace
Tyler
Pierce
Shontell
Neutrality
Gives Way
To War Pg
Justin
Dakota
Jessica
Savannah
David
Novella
Shakyla
Britton
Wilson
Urges
Neutrality
Pg. 287
Ladarius
Hunter
Autumn
Emma
Jacqueline
Kaytlan
Allison
Janie

4. Jigsaw
Ladarius Hunter Autumn Emma
Justin Dakota Jessica Savannah
Gary J.B Jason Serena
Jacqueline Kaytlan Allison Janie
David Novella Shakyla Britton
Grace Devonte Tyler Pierce
Shontell

5. Wilson Urges Neutrality
**President Wilson encourage Americans to be “neutral in
thought as well as action”.
**At first Americans wanted nothing to do with the war.
Eventually many found it difficult not to choose a side:
-1/3 of Americans had a foreign born parent
-British propaganda
showed the Germans
as warlike and
vicious.
-U.S. companies saw
profits rise as demand
for weapons and
supplies rose in Europe.

6. **Many sided with the Allied:
-shared cultural and historical ties as well as a language
with Britain
-France had sent aid during American Revolution.
-Germany invaded tiny Belgium.
**Some sided with the Central Powers:
-Many Americans were descendants of Germans
-Irish hated British so they hoped to see them
lose war

7. Neutrality Gives Way to War
**Wilson tried to keep the U.S. out of the war despite the
continued requests by the British and the continued brutality
of the Germans.
British Blockades
-Stopped all ships checking for contraband.
-Went aboard American passenger ships
-Opened mail
-Blocked trade to enemy nations
-Wilson is upset- -believes in freedom of the seas.

9. Submarine Warfare
-Germany’s new weapon to fight the blockade is the U-boat.
The Lusitania
-British passenger ship hit by Germany torpedo
-Sinks in 18 minutes
-1,200 people die, 128 were Americans
-was carrying contraband
The Sussex
-French ferry hit by German torpedo
-Many Americans injured
-U.S. threatens to break diplomatic ties with Germany

10. **Germany agrees to the Sussex Pledge
-no merchant or passenger ship sunk without warning
-passengers will be given time to exit ship
-this seemed to settle problem temporarily.
**Wilson runs for re-election with the slogan:
“He kept us out of War”
**By 1917, Wilson will be unable to avoid war.

11. **Germany did two things to pull the U.S. into the war
Unrestricted submarine warfare would resume.
The Zimmermann Note
-Telegram sent from Germany to Mexico
-Asked Mexico to declare war on U.S. if U.S. declared
war on Germany
-Promised Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona would
be returned to Mexico at end of war.
-Intercepted by British and shared with U.S.
**Wilson asks Congress to declare war on
Germany on April 2, Congress
votes to grant his request for war 4 days
later. (April 6, 1917)

12. Two Truths and a Lie:
It was very difficult for Americans to stay neutral
during the war because we were melting pot, a
nation of immigrants. Some could not help but
feel loyalty to their or their parents’ homelands.
When the passenger ship, the Lusitania was sunk
without warning by a German submarine, the U.S.
knew it could no longer stay neutral and
declared war on Germany.
Because the British wanted help from the U.S., it
bombarded Americans with propaganda to show
the brutality of the Germans.