1. President Woodrow Wilson “He kept us out of the war.” -1916 Election slogan: Forced into the war by Germany The World War I Era The United States Declares War

2. German use of submarines provoked the U.S. closer to war Passenger & merchant ships were targeted “uncivilized” British deepened anti-German sentiments in U.S. Cut transatlantic cable connecting Germany & the U.S. All news from Europe had to travel through London Pro-allied bias helped shape American publicopinion German Submarine (U-boat) Warfare

3. Tensions Mount May 7 th, 1915, the Lusitania, British passenger liner, sunk by a U-boat Germany claimed ship carrying weapons to England – it was! Killed 128 Americans President Wilson demanded an end to sub warfare Germany promised to warn ships before they fired

4. More U-boat actions; Germany Tests Wilson March 4, 1916 - the Sussex, French passenger liner sunk by a U- boat Germany issued Sussex Pledge Wilson allows U.S. banks to send money to Allied February 1, 1917 - Germany violates Sussex Pledge German leaders knew action would force U.S to enter war Believed they could defeat England before U.S. could become fully involved U.S. responded by breaking diplomatic relations with Germany Wilson asked Congress permission to arm merchant vessels

5. Zimmerman Note British intercepted a letter from Germany’s Foreign Secretary to Mexico Letter tried to persuade Mexico to invade the U.S. if the U.S did not remain neutral Letter was not taken seriously in the U.S. but further damaged foreign relations with Germany

6. Actual Zimmerman Note:

7. Revolution In Russia 1.By 1917 – 1.8 million Russians killed, 2.8 million wounded, 2.4 million taken prisoner 2.Military defeats =economic & social collapse 3.Czar Nicholas II forced to abdicate 4.Civil war erupts in Russia 5.Communists sign treaty & exit WWI 6.Easier for US to enter war without Czar

8. The War Resolution March 1917: German U-boats sink 3 US ships: 1) The City of Memphis 2) The Illinois 3) The Vigilancia April 1917: The War Resolution declared “…the world must be made safe for democracy.” -Woodrow Wilson