1. The United States in the Great War

2. At the outbreak of war, President Wilson declared America neutral

3. Many Americans supported a side in the war; immigrants supported homeland, heritage tied US to GB, history tied US to France, etc. Public opinion favored the Allies over the Central Powers; many politicians and military personnel favored the Allies US had strong business ties to, investments in, and loans to GB which created an economic benefit to Allied victory War news reports came from GB propaganda

4. The US entered the war because of German submarine warfare and the Zimmermann telegram German unrestricted submarine warfare –GB blockaded German trade; Germany used U-boats to sink (without warning) any ship around GB

5. The lack of shipped goods (foodstuffs) caused many Germans to suffer… including these Germans who were picking anything edible off of a dead horse

6. US ships

9. Captured German Uboat German floating mine

10. German Uboat

11. –Lusitania: Americans died when this GB ship was attacked by a U-boat –Sussex Pledge: following the sinking of the French ship, Germany agreed to give notice prior to U-boat attack –Following the Zimmermann Telegram, Germany violated the Sussex Pledge and resumed unrestricted submarine warfare

12. The Lusitania was a luxury liner of civilians secretly carrying ammunition

13. trying to save sailors from a British ship sunk by the German uboats

14. sinking ships

18. naval guns: neutral US armed merchant ships with weapons

19. Zimmermann Telegram published in US newspapers –Germany attempted an alliance with Mexico (against the US) –Mexico would receive US territory (NM,A,TX) in return for helping Germany

20. Zimmermann

23. April 1917: US declared war on Germany (POTUS Wilson: “…to make the world safe for democracy”)

26. John J. Pershing

27. segregated units