The U.S. Enters WWI

Questions to consider…

Is “peace without victory” possible? Was WWI preventable? Why does a nation decide to go to

war? Should the United States fight wars to

keep the world safe for democracy?

AMERICAN NEUTRALITY?

Isolationism: policy of isolating one’s country from the affairs of other nations

No alliances

AMERICAN NEUTRALITY. . .BUT NOT REALLYAs war broke out in Europe, U.S. vowed to stay neutral and out of the war

American sympathy laid with the British & French

U.S. banks gave out large loans to France & Britain; U.S. businesses provided supplies during the war

British Blockade of the North AtlanticGermans responded to this by using unrestricted submarine warfare (attacking without warning)

Attacked passenger ships (carrying supplies to British?)

German U-Boat sank the British Lusitania in May 1915—1200 people died including 120 Americans

Sinking of the Lusitania

Sinking of the Lusitania

Americans were outraged; many wanted to enter the war against GermanyU.S. warned Germany to stop

unrestricted submarine warfareWilson won the election of 1916

with the motto “He kept us out of war”

German Submarines

The Lusitania

Wilson argued for “peace without victory,” to end war, where neither side would impose harsh terms on the other, all nations work together for democracy…

Britain intercepted a telegram from Germany to Mexico

Telegram said that if Mexico allied with Germany in the war, Germany would work to get Texas, New Mexico, & Arizona back for Mexico

Telegram was published and Americans were outraged again

ZIMMERMAN TELEGRAM

Zimmerman & Lusitania push the US to enter the war

To War

April 2, 1917: Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany to “make the world safe for democracy”

The Zimmerman Telegram

American troops land in France in June 1917This help tipped the scale in favor of

the allies In July 1918 German chancellor later said

that after arrival of American troops “Even the most optimistic among us knew that all was lost.”

TOWARD THE END OF THE WAR

TOWARD THE END OF THE WAR

Decisive battle in September – Meuse Argonne Offensive September 1918 until Nov. 1918 (Armistice) Over 1 million American troops took over German

trenches in Argonne forest (in France near border of Germany)

Americans defeat the Germans after several weeks of fighting

Reminder that Battle of Marne was fought from July-August 1918, last major German Offensive

Germany has been defeated Germany’s allies are falling apartRussia is dealing with its own revolution and

army has dropped out entirelyGermany asks for peaceOn November 11, 1918 an armistice

ends the Great War

TOWARD THE END OF THE WAR

Treaty Versailles on next PPT

END OF WAR