Review• 1) List at least 3 techniques used in propaganda

• 2) List at least 2 goals a government might want to accomplish with a propaganda poster

• 3) Describe one propaganda poster that was discussed yesterday. List the:– country of origin– the technique used– the goal of the poster

Causes of America’s entrance into WWI

Neutrality

• In the beginning the United States wanted to remain neutral.

• Wilson issues declaration of neutrality in 1914.

Neutrality

• Why did Wilson not want the U.S. to be involved in the war?

What pulled America into the War

• Unrestricted submarine warfare• The sinking of the Lusitania• Sussex Pledge is broken• The Zimmerman Telegram

Unrestricted Submarine (u-boat) warfare

• Germany would begin sinking ships without warning– In the Atlantic, around Britain

Captured German U-boat in a British dry dock

The Sinking of the Lusitania

• British passenger liner that set sail from New York carrying American citizens.

• It was sunk without warning on May 7, 1915 off the coast of Ireland

The Sinking of the Lusitania

• Over 1,100 died; 120+ were US citizens

• Germans claimed the Lusitania was carrying contraband (war materials: guns, ammunition…)– They were right!

The Sinking of the Lusitania

United States Navy

War Propaganda

Poster

RESULT of the Sinking of the Lusitania

• Germany, despite promises, sunk another ship – The Sussex, killing 2 Americans

• President Wilson protested and Germany issued the Sussex Pledge – passenger ships won’t be targeted– Merchant ships wont be either, unless presence of

weapons is established

Sussex Pledge

• The Sussex Pledge broken: February 1, 1917 Germany continued unrestricted submarine warfare

Zimmermann Telegram

• March 1917 The Zimmermann telegram released

• If the U.S. entered War against Central Powers, Mexico should attack the U.S. and receive as a reward: Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.

•How do you think Americans felt about this?

Zimmermann Telegram

• Why would Germany want the U.S. to remain neutral?

Zimmermann Telegram

Zimmermann Telegram

America Declares War

• April 2, 1917– President Wilson asked Congress for a declaration

of war

•April 6, 1917 Congress declares war!!