World War I: U.S. Goes to War

1914-1920

U.S. Neutrality Pres. Wilson= policy of neutrality Immigrants from the Central Powers sympathized Most backed the Allies

Heritage & Propaganda

U.S. Neutrality British navy blockaded Germany & laid mines in the

N. Sea 1915, German responded= war zone around Britain

Any ship= subject to attack

U.S. Neutrality 5/7/1915, U-boat torpedoed the Lusitania, 128

Americans dead “savages drunk with blood” Germany’s defense

Announced it was a war zone Carrying arms for Britain

Road To War 3/1916, French passenger ship attacked

Wilson threatened diplomatic ties Germany responded: Sussex Pledge

Promised not to sink liners

Road to War Accused Wilson= weak, others abandoning

neutrality Military “preparedness” program

Nat’l Defense Act increased # of soldiers in the army $313 million in naval build up

Still trying to mediate= unsuccessful

Road To War 2/1917, Germany resumed U-boat warfare

To defeat Allies before U.S. joined Wilson broke diplomatic ties & armed U.S. ships Germans sank 5

Road to War 3/1/1917, Zimmerman Note- intercepted cable

Proposed Mexico alliance w/ Germany Help MX reconquer NM, TX, & AZ

4/6/1917, Congress declared war

Quick ReviewWhat was the major issue for the U.S. during

it’s policy of neutrality?

What caused Wilson to break off diplomatic relations w/ Germany?

What was the cable known as the Zimmerman Note?

Activity: Graphic Organizer: U.S. Entry into WWI

The dates: March 1916, February 1917, March 1917, April 1917

Events Significance

Activity: Decoding the Zimmerman Note

Look at the coded note and the decoded version By good intelligence the U.S. was able to intercept

this message With a partner, create your own code and write a

short message using your code. Partners will switch messages and try to decode

each other’s notes.