1. Why was the Battle of the Somme significant?
Warm Up Question
Why was the Battle of the Somme significant?

2. America in WWI

3. America’s decision to enter the war
Sinking of the Lusitania
British passenger liner
Sunk by German sub
1,200 died, including 128 Americans

4. America’s decision to enter the war
Unrestricted German submarine attacks
Germany refused to give warning in sub attacks

5. America’s decision to enter the war
Zimmerman note
German plot to provoke Mexico to war against US
Significance – changed public opinion in U.S.

6. Different Perspectives
We will read two different perspectives on why America entered WWI and try to determine which is more accurate
Intro- what are the 3 main reasons that the article gives for the U.S. entering the war?

7. Perspective- President Wilson
Use the 1917 speech to “imagine the setting.” (a) What does Wilson accuse Germany of doing? (b) Do you think this is a good reason to go to war? (c) What additional information would you need to have before making a decision?
Re-read the last two paragraphs of the 1917 speech. Why do you think Wilson added these paragraphs? How do you think these words made Americans feel?

8. Perspective- Howard Zinn
Who is Howard Zinn? What do you think his perspective will be?
What does Zinn suggest are the real reasons the United States entered the war
What evidence does Zinn provide to support his claims that the United States was motivated by other reasons (besides German attacks on U.S. ships)?

9. Pre-War America Wilson declared war on April 6, 1917
When America entered the war in 1917, we had just over 100,000 troops
Smaller than 16 other countries
Congress had to institute the draft

12. As America enters, Russia exits
Russian Revolution
Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, took over
Signed a peace treaty with Germany
Significance: Let Germany fight a one-front war

13. The state of the war
Germany was slaughtering British and French troops
By May of 1918 they were just 50 miles from Paris

14. America to the rescue American troops jumped in and saved Paris
Turned the tide of war
250,000 American troops arriving in France each month

16. IMPORTANCE OF WWI Deaths Politically American interests
Killed 9 million combatants and 5 million civilians
Politically
Downfall of 4 empires, led to Bolshevik rise to power in Russia, triumph of fascism in Italy
American interests
Led America to become the world’s leading creditor and industrial power
Other consequences
Mass murder of Armenians in Turkey
Influenza epidemic that killed 25 million people