1. WORLD WAR I: EVENTS PRIOR TO US ENTRY US History Honors

2. Events Prior to United States Entry United States Position: Neutrality President Wilson encouraged neutrality in “thought and action” Neutrality Problems for the United States US traded with both sides, but ties with Great Britain were strongest Common language, customs, and government By 1917, US loans to the Allies reached $2.3 billion

3. Events Prior to United States Entry Great Britain spread anti-German propaganda to the US Great Britain blockaded Europe, stopping our trade with Germany (famine)

4. Anti German Propaganda

5. Events Prior to United States Entry Germany began submarine warfare (violated “freedom of seas”) Attacked ships in Allied ports Declared a “war zone” around the British Isles

6. German U-Boat (Submarine)

7. Events Prior to United States Entry Sinking of the Lusitania (May 7, 1915) US and German relations worsen Germany questioned US neutrality and ship’s cargo Ship was loaded with contraband purchased from the US President Wilson demanded in a letter of protest that Germany end submarine warfare, and apologize and pay reparations to the families

8. The Lusitania

9. Events Prior to United States Entry March 1916: The French ship Sussex was sunk with Americans on board. Germany agreed to the “Sussex Pledge” a promise to warn ships before sinking them.

10. Events Prior to United States Entry Election of 1916 (D) Woodrow Wilson: Dove and (R) Charles Hughes: Hawk Both campaigned for peace and neutrality TR may have hurt (R) chances for victory with pro-war speeches Cliff hanger: Wilson won by 20 electoral votes (CA decided the outcome) Message: Did the citizens of the US want to go to war despite Wilson???

12. Events to United States Entry By 1916, the War in Europe became stalemated on both fronts Western Front = 500 miles of trenches extending from the English Channel to the Adriatic Sea (defended by France and Great Britain) Eastern Front = line defended by Russia Little progress & high casualties led to frustration on both sides

15. Events Prior to United States Entry Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare to break the deadlock stopped issuing warnings; 3 US ships were sunk in one day Kaiser felt confident the US would not enter the war US responded by ending diplomatic relations with Germany

16. Events Prior to United States Entry Zimmermann Note (last straw) published on March 1, 1917 Letter from Germany to Mexico asking for an alliance against the US Intercepted and decoded by Great Britain Pro-war fever intensified in the US; TR demanded we enter in the name of self-defense. Soon after, 4 more unarmed US ships were sunk March 1917, Russia surrendered to Germany

18. Events Prior to United States Entry Wilson asked Congress for a Declaration of War on April 2, 1917 Enemy: German Government, not the German people Wilson: “America must go to war to make the world safe for Democracy” Congress declared war on April 6, 1917

19. Events Prior to United States Entry The Allies were weakened in 1917 March 1917: a Russian peoples’ revolt overthrew Czar Nicholas II and a provisional government was set up November 1917: weak Russian provisional government was overthrown by the Bolsheviks led by Nikolai Lenin, eventually resulting in a communist government December 1917: Russia agreed to an armistice on the Eastern Front and withdrew, leaving Germany to fight a ONE front war (all Germany’s forces could now be sent to the Western Front)

20. Nikolai Lenin

21. United States Enters World War I June 1917: first US troops arrive in Europe AEF = American Expeditionary Forces were led by General John Pershing By 1918, 2 million US “Doughboys” were in France Wilson began plans for permanent peace based on his 14 Points

22. General John Pershing