America Goes to WarWorld War I

Famous Ship Disaster

RMS TitanicApril 15, 19121,500 passengers died

RMS Empress of IrelandMay 29, 19141,012 passengers died

RMS Lusitania

Lusitania: So What Was It?

The British ocean liner RMS Lusitania, famous for its luxurious accommodations and speed capability, primarily ferried people and goods across the Atlantic Ocean between the United States and Great Britain. On May 1, 1915, the Lusitania left port in New York for Liverpool to make her 202nd trip across the Atlantic. On board were 1,959 people, 159 of whom were Americans.

Last known picture of Lusitania

Mistakes

All ships headed to Great Britain were instructed to be on the lookout for U-boats and take precautionary measures such as travel at full speed and make zigzag movements. Unfortunately, on May 7, 1915, Captain William Thomas Turner slowed the Lusitania down because of fog and traveled in a predictable line.

"Lusitania May 7, 1915. Have been torpedoed. Send help." Note found in bottle after Lusitania disaster, buried in sand of an English Beach.

The funeral for victims of the Lusitania disaster, when the German naval forces sank a British passenger vessel.

Results of Sinking

• The Lusitania sunk within 18 minutes. Though there had been enough lifeboats for all passengers, the severe listing of the ship while it sunk prevented most from being launched properly. Of the 1,959 people on board, 1,198 died.

• Americans were outraged to learn 128 U.S. civilians were killed in a war in which they were officially neutral. Destroying ships not known to be carrying war materials countered generally accepted international war protocols. The sinking of the Lusitania heightened tensions between the U.S. and Germany and helped sway American opinion in favor of joining the war.

What has history shown us?In 2008, divers explored the wreck of the Lusitania, situated eight miles off the coast of Ireland. On board, the divers found approximately four million U.S.-made Remington .303 bullets. The discovery supports the German's long-held belief that the Lusitania was being used to transport war materials. The find also supports the theory that it was the explosion of munitions on board that caused the second explosion on the Lusitania. But is that really what happened? Ask Robert Ballard, the world renowned underwater explorer.

• Lusitania Sunk• Doughboys back pack

Zimmerman Telegram

"We intend to begin on the first of February unrestricted submarine warfare. We shall endeavor in spite of this to keep the United States of America neutral. In the event of this not succeeding, we make Mexico a proposal of alliance on the following basis: make war together, make peace together, generous financial support and an understanding on our part that Mexico is to re-conquer the lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The settlement in detail is left to you. You will inform the President of the above most secretly as soon as the outbreak of war with the United States of America is certain and add the suggestion that he should, on his own initiative, invite Japan to immediate adherence and at the same time mediate between Japan and ourselves. Please call the President's attention to the fact that the ruthless employment of our submarines now offers the prospect of compelling England in a few months to make peace." Signed, ZIMMERMANN

President Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the United States, addresses Congress on April 2, 1917 requesting a declaration of war against Germany.

Who was appointed the head of the AEF?

General Pershing lands in France as Commander of the A.E.F. June 28, 1917

How many men were needed to join the AEF by 1918?

How were men selected to serve in the AEF?

What role did women from the US play in WWI?

When did the AEF arrive in France?

What was General Harbord’s order to his troops?

What famous AEF unit consisted of black soldiers?

American ace of the 94th Aero Squadron, First Lieut. Edward [Eddie] V. Rickenbacker, stands up in his Spad plane near Rembercourt, France, during World War I. | Location: near Rembercourt, France. October 18, 1918

What is a Conscientious objector?

WWI delousing steam cleaner used by the American Expeditionary Force