US Neutrality President Woodrow Wilson Tried to keep United
States out of WWI from 1914-1917 Tried to act a mediator between
Allied and Central Powers
Slide 4
Causes of American Involvement 1. Unrestricted Submarine
Warfare 2. British propaganda 3. Zimmerman Telegraph 4. Russian
Revolution
Slide 5
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare Germany created new submarine
called the U-Boat British blockaded North Sea, so Germany gave a
sink on sight order to any ship approaching Britain May 7 th,
1915-British passenger liner the Lusitania sunk off the coast of
Ireland Killed 128 Americans
Slide 6
The Lusitania
Slide 7
Slide 8
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare Aug. 1915 The Arabic is sunk by
the Germans 2 Americans are killed
Slide 9
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare March 1916 The Sussex, an
unarmed passenger ship is sunk America threatens to cut off
diplomatic relations Sussex pledge- no passenger or merchant ships
would be sunk without warning
Slide 10
British Propaganda The British sent news of the war to US
newspapers everyday Full of Propaganda Led the American public to
be sympathetic toward the British
Slide 11
British Propaganda
Slide 12
Slide 13
Slide 14
Slide 15
Slide 16
Zimmerman Telegram March 1917-British authorities gave to the
US a telegram that was supposedly sent to Mexico from Germany It
had been decoded by the British It asked Mexico to declare war on
the US and they would be supported by Germany
Slide 17
Russian Revolution March 1917-Russia left WWI due to a
Revolution in their own country Germany now would concentrate
totally on the Western Front Pleas from Great Britain and France to
join the war effort
Slide 18
Declaration of War April 2, 1917-Wilson asks Congress to
declare war on Germany The World must be made safe for Democracy
April 6 th -Congress votes and declares war