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2/2/2016 Causes of WWI (1914 - 1917)

Vocabulary:

• isolationism – belief that US should refrain from

involvement in overseas politics, alliances, or wars

Notes

Announcements

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K-W: America in World War I

Know Want to Learn

The Great War

WWI & American Neutrality

• Wilson declared neutrality at onset of WWI

(1914)

• Linguistic, cultural connections to England,

France

• German & Austrian plans for industrial

sabotage

WWI & American Neutrality

• US banks give loans to Allies (UK, France,

Russia)

• US continued trade with Allies (German

trade blocked by British Navy)

Freedom of the Seas

• Germany announces U-boat warfare

surrounding British Isles, but US neutral shipping

continues

• Lusitania sunk, killing 128 Americans (and cases

of ammunition)

• Sussex Pledge: German U-Boats would not sink

passenger ships without warning

Catalyst of the War

• Wilson wins re-election, 1916 –

“He kept us out of war!”

• January 1917: Germany re-opens

unrestricted submarine warfare,

hoping to be able to win war

before US could enter

• March 1917: Zimmerman

Telegram

• March 1917: 4 US unarmed

merchant ships sunk

Declaration of War, April 1917

• Wilson’s twin goals of war:

– “The world must be made safe for

Democracy”

– “A war to end all wars”

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