World War IWorld War I

Unrestricted Submarine WarfareUnrestricted Submarine Warfare

U.S. Entry into the WarU.S. Entry into the War

Unrestricted Submarine Unrestricted Submarine Warfare Warfare

• Britain had setup a naval blockade of Germany – Stopped Germany

from getting military supplies

Unrestricted Submarine Unrestricted Submarine WarfareWarfare

• Germany declared the Seas around Britain to be a war zone

• Sunk any ships bringing war supplies to Britain – Germany had sunk

American ships going to Britain

Allied Ships Sunk by U-Boats

Allied Ships Sunk by U-Boats

The LusitaniaThe Lusitania

• British Passenger ship sunk by Germans on May 7, 1915

The LusitaniaThe Lusitania

• 128 Americans killed

• Germany claimed the ship was carrying war supplies and ammunition

• Caused a great deal of anger in America

Sussex PledgeSussex Pledge

• May 1916• Germany pledged to search all ships

before firing on them• Germany wanted Americans to

convince the British to lift the blockade on Germany

• Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare in Jan. 1917

United States involvement United States involvement in the Warin the War

• The Zimmerman NoteThe Zimmerman Note – Feb. 1917 – German ambassador

sends telegram to Mexico

– Asks Mexico to attack the United States in return Germany will help Mexico retake lands in the American Southwest

– British intercept letter and turn it over to Americans

Declaration of WarDeclaration of War

• Wilson asks Congress to declare war on Wilson asks Congress to declare war on GermanyGermany– April 2, 1917 – Congress votes to declare war

America Prepares for America Prepares for WarWar

• Selective Service Act– Drafted soldiers into

military service

America Prepares for America Prepares for WarWar

• War Industry Board – Converted factories

to produce war related goods

America Prepares for America Prepares for WarWar

• Government sells war bonds

• Anti-German propaganda