1. Notes

2.  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

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

4.  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

5.  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

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