America Goes to War

Causes of the Great War Nationalism Imperialism Militarism Alliance System

Alliances Triple Entente (Allies)  France  Britain  Russia Triple Alliance  Germany  Austria-Hungary  Italy

Spark of The Great War Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (heir to Austrian throne Germany due to its alliance agreement with Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia

Neutrality Policy Saw no need to enter the conflict Germans had been stopped by the Allis in their first advance – did not need our help Am. Foreign policy was not to get involved in other nation’s business Against Progressive Movement Fear that entry in the war would end movement Tugged at the emotions of the millions of immigrants English supported Allis Irish supported Germany – hopes of independence German sympathized with Central Powers

Majority Sympathized with the Allis Bound by common language and customs with England Germany seemed the aggressor when it invaded Belgium In the end ties of heritage and course of war decided the American position

Submarine Warfare German U-boats (Unterseeboot) –Designed for sneak attacks –Four stages of U-boat fighting 1. send warning 2. war zone is declared 3. German backs off 4. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare UC 44 Class U-boat: 1) Aft torpedo tubes 2) Electric motor 3) Main engine 4) Control room 5) Mine tubes 6) Forward torpedo tubes 7) Crew quarters

1 st stage Sent warning to all merchant ships Send a boarding party to check out cargo Let the non- combatants leave ship Sink ship

2 nd stage War zone around England is declared All ships in area at risk Even neutral ships Lusitania torpedoed on May 7 th Germans said it was carrying arms and explosives Wilson demanded reparations and the promise German agrees

Breaks promise and torpedoed the French Sussex US sends new warning – if continue US will break off diplomatic relationships (sure sign of war) Germany again agrees IF US got British to lift is hunger blockade US reply – we cannot tell Britain what to do

3 rd Stage German backs off Did not want US involved in war

4 th Stage War goes badly for Germany The blockade hurt them Jan 1917 announce all out U- boat attack to begin in Feb. Sink all ships – including American merchant ships By March four Am. Ships went down

Zimmermann Telegram British government gave Wilson an intercepted telegram From Arthur Zimmermann, German foreign minister to the German ambassador in Mexico It proposed an alliance with Mexico in case of war Mexico declare war Germany help Mexico regain lost land

Russia Pulls out Without the nasty czar United States could fight for democracy Against the Kaiser And make the “world safe for democracy”

Wilson’s address to Congress “With a profound sense of the solemn and even tragic character of the step I am taking, and of the grave responsibilities involved, but in unhesitating obedience to my constitutional duty, I advise Congress to declare that the recent course of the German Government is nothing less than war against the United States, and that the United States accept the status of a belligerent which has been thrust upon it, and will take immediate steps to put the country into a thorough state of defense, and to exert all her power and resource in bringing Germany to terms, and in ending the war.” Woodrow Wilson President of the United States of America April 3 rd 1917

Why US went to war Freedom of the Seas Make world safe for Democracy Help shape Europe after war

Rallying the Troops Draft – 10 million men The German “Hun” Uncle Sam ** At time U.S. joins war only 200,000 men enlisted in army**