The World War I Era

The United States Declares War

President Woodrow Wilson

“He kept us out of the war.” -1916 Election slogan:

•Forced into the war by Germany

• German use of submarines provoked the U.S. closer to war

• Passenger & merchant ships were targeted “uncivilized”

• British deepened anti-German sentiments in U.S.

• Cut transatlantic cable connecting Germany & the U.S.

• All news from Europe had to travel through London

• Pro-allied bias helped shape American public opinion

German Submarine Warfare

Tensions Mount• May 7th, 1915, the Lusitania,

British passenger liner, sunk by a U-boat• Germany claimed ship carrying

weapons to England – it was!

• Killed 128 Americans

• President Wilson demanded an end to sub warfare

• Germany promised to warn ships before they fired

More U-boat actions; Germany Tests Wilson

• March 4, 1916 - the Sussex, French passenger liner sunk by a U-boat • Germany issued Sussex Pledge

• Wilson allows U.S. banks to send money to Allied

• February 1, 1917 - Germany violates Sussex Pledge

• German leaders knew action would force U.S to enter war

• Believed they could defeat England before U.S. could become fully involved

• U.S. responded by breaking diplomatic relations with Germany

• Wilson asked Congress permission to arm merchant vessels

Zimmerman Note

• British intercepted a letter from Germany’s Foreign Secretary to Mexico

• Letter tried to persuade Mexico to invade the U.S. if the U.S did not remain neutral

• Letter was not taken seriously in the U.S. but further damaged foreign relations with Germany

Revolution In Russia1. By 1917 – 1.8 million Russians killed, 2.8

million wounded, 2.4 million taken prisoner2. Military defeats =economic & social collapse3. Czar Nicholas II forced to abdicate4. Civil war erupts in Russia5. Communists sign treaty & exit WWI6. Easier for US to enter war without Czar

The War Resolution• March 1917: German U-boats sink US

ships:1) City of Memphis2) Illinois3) Vigilancia

• April 1917: The War Resolution declared

“…the world must be made safe for democracy.”

-Woodrow Wilson