The United States Stays Neutral

Americas initial position on the war and why that position changedThe United States Stays Neutral

President Wilson and the United States would not intially take sides in the warAmerican companies sold weapons to the nations at warCompanies sent hundreds of ships to England and France with weapons and armaments

United States Stays NeutralGermany set up a war zone around Great Britain and attempted to stop American ships from reaching British portsBritain also set up war zones and stopped American ships from selling goods to GermanyWar Zones

Germany says that its submarines would sink any ship found in their war zonesUnrestricted Submarine WarfareWoodrow Wilson believes that all countries should be free to sail the oceans and seas of the world

U-boats

Central Powers begin to defeat the Allied NationsAmericans fear defeat of their cross Atlantic friend, Great BritainShared language, government type, and customsAmerica was an ally of France during the American RevolutionGermany started to look cruel in the eyes of AmericansAmerica Stays Neutral (cont.)Lusitania is a large British passenger shipShip traveling from New York to England (1915)German U-boat torpedoes the Lusitania off the coast of IrelandThe ship sinks, killing almost 1,200 people (128 were Americans)Germany Sinks the LusitaniaThe Lusitania

The Lusitania

Americans were upset by the attackPresident Wilson sends a letter of protest to GermanyGermany accuses Lusitania of carrying munitions for the AlliesGreat Britain and America deny this chargeAmerican public turns against GermanyGermany orders U-boat captains to be more careful in selecting which ships to attackFear of America joining the allied war effortAs a result, the war zone around Britain is less effectiveGermany Sinks the Lusitania (cont)Woodrow Wilson runs for re-electionDems. and Repubs. approve of Wilsons policiesAmericans are happy that the U.S. has stayed out of the warDemocrats use the campaign slogan He kept us out of the war.Wilson wins a close electionElection of 1916Election of 1916

Lusitania and the Zimmerman Note