Chapter 7 Section 2 The United States Enters World War I

Big Question Describe what events led to the United States entering World War I. Describe in detail what the U.S. did once it joined the war and how did the war changed with their involvement?

Key Terms Isolationism Unrestricted Submarine Warfare Lusitania Sussex Pledge “peace without victory” Zimmermann Note Selective Service Act American Expeditionary Force General John J. Pershing Convoy system Bolsheviks Communist Revolution V.I. Lenin Armistice

U.S. Stays Neutral When war started, most Americans thought war had little to do with them…It was a European matter President Woodrow Wilson declared the U.S. neutral, which was typical of America’s long-standing policy of isolationism, not being involved in affairs of other countries. Economically, and privately, the U.S. was on the side of the Allies, selling them war goods and weapons.

Germany was under a heavy blockade by Great Britain, so it announced in 1915 the introduction of unrestricted submarine warfare, destroying any ship that goes into British waters…including American cargo ships. Wilson told Germany that this violated U.S. Neutrality and they would pay for any American lives lost.

Heading Toward War In May of 1915, British luxury ship the Lusitania was sunk off the coast of Britain, killing 1,200 people – 128 Americans Wilson demanded an end of unrestricted submarine warfare Germany did for a while but then began to target ships again in 1916 by issuing the Sussex Pledge, promise not to sink merchant ships “without warning and without saving human lives”

President Wilson gets re-elected in 1916, promising to keep America out of war. In January 1917, Wilson tried to get Allied and Central Powers to accept “peace without victory” Allies demanded Central Powers pay for starting the war. February 1917, Germany began unrestricted submarine warfare again…U.S. cut off ties with Germany and mounted weapons on merchants ships

Relationship between U. S Relationship between U.S. and Germany gets worse when the Zimmermann Note was intercepted by the British and sent to President Wilson. This German note asked Mexico to join the war on the side of the Central Powers and to invade the U.S.

In exchange, Mexico would get land it lost from the U.S. in the Mex-Am. War in 1848. Newspapers published the letter, Americans were furious and called for war on Germany.

In March of 1917, Germany sank three American merchant ships Wilson, out of patience, asked Congress to declare war and on April 6, 1917, the United States joined the war on the side of the Allies

Americans in Europe “The Yanks are Coming” America began to mobilize for war fast. Congress passed Selective Service Act, which required men ages 21-30 to register to be drafted Most young men went willingly. The training for the soldiers was intense and almost nothing was ready for the new recruits.

The American recruits formed the American Expeditionary Force led by General John J. Pershing. To get the soldiers safely to Europe, the U.S. had to used the convoy system, where we surrounded troop-transport ships with cruisers and destroyers for protection.

When Americans soldiers arrived, the Allies were losing the war and were desperate for American help Instead of sending soldiers directly into combat, Pershing sent his American troops to train in Eastern France

In November of 1917, the Bolsheviks took over the gov In November of 1917, the Bolsheviks took over the gov. of Russia in the Communist Revolution. Communist leader V.I. Lenin, pulled Russian soldiers out of the war on the Eastern Front, leaving the Germans to focus all attention on the Western Front.

In April of 1918, The Germans launched a massive offensive attack that pushed the allies almost to the breaking point. Finally, the U.S. showed up and stopped the Germans attack at the Battles of Chateau-Thierry and Belleau Wood.

The War Ends In July 1918, the Germans launched a last attack at the Second Battle of the Marne. They lost and the Allies began to push the Germans back into Belgium and toward Germany. After the bloody Battle of Argonne Forest in November 1918, the Central Powers were falling apart. Food riots in Germany, revolution in Austria-Hungary, soldiers refusing to fight

On Nov. 7 1918, Austria- Hungary signed a peace agreement with the Allies, Germany did the same several days later. Allies demanded Germany leave occupied territory and surrender it guns, tanks, aircraft and U-boats. On the November 11, 1918 - “11th hour, of 11th day, of 11th month”, an armistice (ceasefire) was signed and the guns of World War I fell silent The terrible fighting of the war finally ended.

Big Questions & Key Terms American Expeditionary Force General John J. Pershing Convoy system Bolsheviks Communist Revolution V.I. Lenin Armistice Isolationism Unrestricted Submarine Warfare Lusitania Sussex Pledge “peace without victory” Zimmermann Note Selective Service Act Describe what events led to the United States entering World War I. Describe in detail what the U.S. did once it joined the war and how did the war changed with their involvement?