2. The war had been little more than a stalemate from
1914-1917.
Russia, one of the major Allies pulled out in 1917,
severly weakening the Allies.
America chose the perfect moment to enter the war
for the Allies.
The Stage Currently
3. Several students have asked where America was.
Several more have asked what pushed America into
the war.
America declared itself neutral when the war began.
Neutrality is basically the same thing as isolationism.
Bottom line, America did not want to fight.
Several things though pushed America into the Allied
side.
Neutrality Isolationism
4. After the War of 1812, America had become friends and
trading partners with Britain.
The British blockaded Germany, limiting American trade
with Germany.
American businesses loaned Britain money.
Americans felt a connection to our “mother country.”
America Britain
5. Because of the blockade of
Germany, and because many
countries traded with Britain,
Germany practiced
Unrestricted Submarine
Warfare (German subs
attacked any boats they
could).
Americans did not like this
because innocents died.
The most famous boat sunk
was the Lusitania (1915). Many
Americans died on it.
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
6. President Wilson was NO
Roosevelt.
He demanded the Germans
stop attacking boats and then
kept America out of the war.
In 1916, he ran for reelection.
His slogan: “He kept us out of
the war!”
He won reelection.
President Wilson
7. Germany sent a message to Mexico saying that if Mexico
helped Germany beat America, then Mexico could
retake the American Southwest.
The English found the message and was more than
willing to send it to Wilson.
America was very upset about this!
The Zimmerman Telegram!!!
8. Germany returned to
Unrestricted Submarine
Warfare in 1917 and sunk
several American ships.
Wilson also wanted to keep
“The World Safe for
Democracy!”
America declared war in April
of 1917.
Took several months for
Americans to arrive though.
Finally at War
9. The American
Expeditionary Force helped
deflect the final German
attack on the French line.
The Germans asked for an
armistice (stop fighting) on
November 11, 1918.
The War to End All Wars…
