THE UNITED STATES IN WORLD WAR I

• The United States followed a policy of isolationism before World War I.

• The US kept to itself and was not considered a world power

NEUTRALITY

• http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-570.jpg

• Germany wage unrestricted submarine warfare at the start of the war.

• Ceased unrestricted warfare for a time.

• Began again, sinking a great number of ships in the Atlantic.

SUBMARINE WARFARE

THE LUSITANIA

• Passenger Ship sunk by German submarines.

• 128 American aboard when it sunk.

• Germans sunk it because it was carrying war munitions to England.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/RMS_Lusitania_coming_into_port,_possibly_in_New_York,_1907-13-crop.jpg

• Telegram from German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann to German ambassador in Mexico City January 17, 1917.

• Intercepted by the British and forwarded to U.S.

• Asked Mexico to join World War I on the side of the Central Powers.

THE ZIMMERMAN TELEGRAM

http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/graphics/zimmermann_coded.jpg

MONETARY INCENTIVE

• Allies owed the United States about $10 billion

• If the allies lost, debts would not be paid.

WAR

• President Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war on Germany on April 2, 1917.

• The Senate approved on April 4.

• The House of Representatives approved on April 6.

FIGHTING

• The U.S. saw very little fighting compared to the other nations.

• The war was almost over by the time U.S. arrived.

• U.S. forces led by Gen. John J. Pershing.

• Most famous battle for the U.S. was Belleua Wood.