1. Reasons the United States entered WWI

2. America’s Background WWI began in the summer of 1914. During this time, America decided to remain neutral. One of the reasons for this neutrality was the vast amount of immigrants in America. They were from countries on both sides of the war and had a personal attachment or relatives in Europe fighting. For America to chose a side would disrespect the heritage and culture of many Americans. Therefore America was divided and a position of neutrality would satisfy everyone.

3. If the United States were to join in the Great War, which side would they be on?

4. Americans were satisfied with the position of neutrality & it would take a couple of huge events that would convince them otherwise. These two events would be the: - Sinking of the Lusitania - Zimmerman Telegram

5. The British ship, the Lusitania was sunk in May 1915. The ship had left New York and was headed to Europe when it was sunk by a German U-boat. The ship took 18 minutes to sink as 1,153 passengers and crew drowned. There were 128 American passengers among them.

6. Before this incident, New York newspapers had ran a warning (paid by the German Embassy) saying that any ship sailing into the European War Zone was at risk of being shot by German submarines. Also many passengers received anonymous telegrams advising them not to travel on the ship.

7. The passengers ignored the warnings because the Lusitania was bragged to being the fastest and largest ship in the Atlantic. It could outpace any other vessel above or below the water...so there was no need for worry.

8. In March the following year (1916), a German submarine torpedoed a French passenger boat, the Sussex. A couple of Americans passengers aboard were wounded.

9. The attack prompted the United States to end diplomacy with the Germany. The German government made a pledge to give America advanced warning before sinking merchant and passenger ships. This would give the passengers and crew a chance to get in a safe position.

10. However in January 1917, it was clear that Germany was not going to abide by this pledge as they announce their immediate use of unrestricted submarine warfare.

11. The last straw for America was the interception of the Zimmerman telegram by the British in January 1917.

12. The telegram was given to the United States in February and was released to the American press in March 1917.

13. This telegram was from the German Foreign Minister to the German Minister to Mexico but intercepted by the British.

14. In addition to Germany’s unrestricted warfare, this telegram angered the American people. The telegram pushed America towards war.

15. On April 6, 1917, the United States Congress formally declared war on Germany and its allies. America had officially entered WWI.

16. If you think about the facts presented, there are many holes and unanswered questions. Take a few minutes and go over your notes. Write down anything that you think might be questionable and ASK the question.

17. Write down your question at the top of a poster board. Spend the rest of the period searching through the books in the library on WWI and perusing the internet to find the answer to your question. Write the answer on the poster board and it will be presented to the class the following day.