Reasons To Go To War

World War I

The German navel blockade (pg. 670)Germany had an effective sea weapon known as the submarine. After they were able to defeat the British in the North Sea the Germans turned their submarines on Great Britain. They blockaded Great Britain and prevented necessary foods and supplies from reaching the people. As Great Britain's began to run out of food and supplies the Germans felt they were close to victory. The Americans knew that they must get their ships into the islands to help prevent the people of Great Britain from dying, even at the risk of submarine attacks from German u-boats.

The Lusitania (pg. 674)Germany's policy of unrestricted submarine warfare caused much ill-feeling in the U.S.  The United States was a “Neutral” country and the Germans torpedoed their cruse ship the Lusitania in May 1915 and the Sussex in April 1916 nearly brought the U.S. into the war. This killed 128 American Citizens and outraged the American public. The Germans sank the Lusitania because it was not only carrying passengers but also supplies and weapons for the British.

The Zimmerman Telegram (pg. 674)In January of 1917, British cryptographers deciphered a telegram from German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann to the German Minister to Mexico, von Eckhardt, offering United States territory to Mexico in return for joining the German cause. The Germans wanted Mexico to invade the U.S. in exchange for land.

The American press published news of the telegram on March 1.  On April 6, 1917, the United States Congress formally declared war on Germany and its allies.

Ties to the Homeland (pg. 672)At the start of the war, one-third of Americans were foreign-born or children of immigrants. This made them favor which side? _______________

Americans favored Great Britain and other Allied Powers because we had the same cultures and languages.

United States is at WAR!