1. Reasons for the US Entrance
US History II

2. Total war War expands to civilians and supply lines
1915 – Zeppelin raids begin over England
Aim at war factories

3. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
British establish blockade of German ports & mine North Sea
German U-boats sink ships without warning
Refuse to rescue survivors
Many targets: merchant (supplies), naval (military) & passenger ships

4. <May 1915> Sinking of the Lusitania
British passenger ocean liner
1,200 passengers die; 128 were American
Germany claimed munitions (military supplies) were on board
G.B. denied this claim

5. <March 1916> Sussex Pledge
French ship is attacked – 80 killed
Germany promises not to sink anymore merchant ships without warning

6. Election of 1916 Woodrow Wilson (D) vs Charles Evans Hughes (R)
Wilson’s campaign: “He kept us out of war!”

7. The Last Straw <January 1917> Zimmerman note
 Germany attempts to create an alliance with Mexico

8. <March 1917>Russian Revolution
Czar Nicholas II & the Royal Family are overthrown
Kerensky takes over and institutes a provisional democracy

9. <April 2, 1917> Wilson asks Congress to declare war
Keep the world “Safe for Democracy”