Innovations in Warfare Mass-produced weapons Submarines (U-boats) Poison gas Tanks Airplanes Machine guns Led to high death tolls

The U.S. at the Start of WW1 The Monroe Doctrine: Told European nations to stay out of the Western hemisphere Also said the U.S. would stay out of European events “You mind your business, we will mind our business”

The U.S. at the Start of WW1 The U.S. adopted a policy of isolationism or neutrality Did not pick either side and decided to stay out of the war

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare Germany’s policy of using U-boats to sink any and all ships in the waters surrounding Great Britain Sunk an average of two British ships each day in 1915

Sinking of the Lusitania 1915: German U-Boats sunk the Lusitania Part of their policy of unrestricted Submarine Warfare Secretly carrying war supplies to Great Britain Killed 1,200, including 128 Americans American public outraged

Zimmerman Telegram German minister, Arthur Zimmerman, sent a telegram to the Mexican government asking Mexico to join Germany in a war against the U.S. In return, Germany would help Mexico reclaim land lost before and after the Mexican-American War President Woodrow Wilson realized war was inevitable and asked Congress for a declaration of war

Two Sides Allied POwers Central Powers United States Britain Russia France Austria-Hungary Germany The Ottoman Empire Go back to the chart at the beginning of your notes and add the U.S. to the Allied Powers

The United States Mobilizes The Selective Service Act Passed by Congress in 1917 Required all men to register with the government Created a database used to randomly select men for military service About 10% of those registered were drafted Only 2/3 of those drafted (about 2 million) sent to Europe

The United States Mobilizes Segregation in the military 400,000 African American men enlisted More than half experienced combat 369th Infantry saw more conflict than any other African American regiment 2 men earned the “Croix de Guerre” (France’s Medal of Honor)

The United States Mobilizes Women were not allowed to fight on the front lines Many women participated in non-combat roles Secretaries Nurses Telephone operators