For elementary history students

1. The United States enters
World War 1

2. Most Americans in the early 1900s preferred we
be ISOLATED from the rest of the world’s
problems and focus on our own country.
• This policy is called ISOLATIONISM
Stick your head in the sand and hide and
Pretend the rest of the world’s problems
Don’t exist!

4. Many immigrants did not want
the U.S. to get involved in WW1.
How do you think this German
immigrant family may have felt?

5. German submarines were sinking
Allied ships in Europe

6. In 1915, German submarines sank this passenger
ship from Great Britain-The Lusitania. Over 100
Americans on board died.

7. How did many Americans feel when this
drawing was printed in newspapers?

9. President Wilson wrote an angry letter to the
German government telling them the U.S. did NOT
approve sinking civilian (non military) ships!!!!!!

10. Germany sent this coded telegram to the government of
Mexico asking them to join them in the fight. The U.S.
intercepted it and were outraged at Germany!

11. BERLIN, JANUARY 19, 1917
WE INTEND TO BEGIN ON THE FIRST OF FEBRUARY
UNRESTRICTED SUBMARINE WARFARE. WE SHALL ENDEAVOR
IN SPITE OF THIS TO KEEP THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
NEUTRAL. IN THE EVENT OF THIS NOT SUCCEEDING, WE MAKE
MEXICO A PROPOSAL OF ALLIANCE ON THE FOLLOWING BASIS:
MAKE WAR TOGETHER, MAKE PEACE TOGETHER, GENEROUS
FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND AN UNDERSTANDING ON OUR PART
THAT MEXICO IS TO RECONQUER THE LOST TERRITORY IN
TEXAS, NEW MEXICO, AND ARIZONA. THE SETTLEMENT IN
DETAIL IS LEFT TO YOU. YOU WILL INFORM THE PRESIDENT [OF
MEXICO] OF THE ABOVE MOST SECRETLY AS SOON AS THE
OUTBREAK OF WAR WITH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS
CERTAIN AND ADD THE SUGGESTION THAT HE SHOULD, ON HIS
OWN INITIATIVE, INVITE JAPAN TO IMMEDIATE ADHERENCE AND
AT THE SAME TIME MEDIATE BETWEEN JAPAN AND OURSELVES.
PLEASE CALL THE PRESIDENT'S ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT
THE RUTHLESS EMPLOYMENT OF OUR SUBMARINES NOW
OFFERS THE PROSPECT OF COMPELLING ENGLAND IN A FEW
MONTHS TO MAKE PEACE.
ZIMMERMANN

12. When German submarines sank three U.S. ships,
American people demanded war!

13. On April 6, 1917 Congress met to declare
war on Germany and the U.S. was into
World War One!

14. Young men from all across the U.S.
volunteered to go across the ocean and fight
for the U.S. in the war.

15. General John Pershing was placed in
charge of all of America’s troops by
President Wilson

16. The U.S. carried their guns, planes and
other supplies to help the Allies!