US INVOLVEMENT IN WWI

US INVOLVEMENT IN WWIUS NeutralityPresident Woodrow WilsonTried to keep United States out of WWI from 1914-1917Tried to act a mediator between Allied and Central PowersCauses of American Involvement1. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare2. British propaganda3. Zimmerman Telegraph4. Russian RevolutionUnrestricted Submarine WarfareGermany created new submarine called the U-BoatBritish blockaded North Sea, so Germany gave a sink on sight order to any ship approaching BritainMay 7th, 1915-British passenger liner the Lusitania sunk off the coast of IrelandKilled 128 AmericansThe Lusitania

Unrestricted Submarine WarfareAug. 1915The Arabic is sunk by the Germans2 Americans are killed

Unrestricted Submarine WarfareMarch 1916The Sussex, an unarmed passenger ship is sunkAmerica threatens to cut off diplomatic relationsSussex pledge- no passenger or merchant ships would be sunk without warning

British PropagandaThe British sent news of the war to US newspapers everydayFull of PropagandaLed the American public to be sympathetic toward the BritishBritish Propaganda

British Propaganda

British Propaganda

British Propaganda

British Propaganda

Zimmerman TelegramMarch 1917-British authorities gave to the US a telegram that was supposedly sent to Mexico from GermanyIt had been decoded by the BritishIt asked Mexico to declare war on the US and they would be supported by Germany

Russian RevolutionMarch 1917-Russia left WWI due to a Revolution in their own countryGermany now would concentrate totally on the Western FrontPleas from Great Britain and France to join the war effortDeclaration of WarApril 2, 1917-Wilson asks Congress to declare war on GermanyThe World must be made safe for DemocracyApril 6th-Congress votes and declares war