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US INVOLVEMENT IN WWI

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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

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Causes of American Involvement 1. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare 2. British propaganda 3. Zimmerman Telegraph 4. Russian Revolution

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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

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The Lusitania

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Unrestricted Submarine Warfare Aug. 1915 The Arabic is sunk by the Germans 2 Americans are killed

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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

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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

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British Propaganda

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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

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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

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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