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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