America Joins the War

Slide 1: 

America Fights! Why did the United States get involved in World War I?

Do Now : 

Do Now In your opinion, when should America get involved in wars? In your opinion, when should America get involved in wars being fought by foreign countries? Would you ever go and fight in a war for the United States? Why/why not?

Slide 4: 

1. During the first few years of World War I, the United States was neutral (we stayed out of the war.) Sorry, Europeans (especially our British friends.) We’re staying out of it this time!!!

Notes : 

Notes 2. President Woodrow Wilson promised that America would remain the last great peaceful nation. What’s up America? Are you chicken? Bawk Bawk!

Slide 6: 

3. However, throughout the war, Germany tried to provoke America to join the war. Let’s see how long you can stay neutral once we start messing with you..

Notes : 

Notes 4. For example, German submarines (called U-Boats) continuously attacked ships in the Atlantic Ocean. 5. The most famous such incident was the sinking of the Lusitania, which killed 1198 people (128 Americans.)

Notes : 

Notes 6. Germany also sent a telegram to Mexico, asking them to attack the USA.

Slide 16: 

7. Finally, Germany tried to starve Britain by sinking any ships bring Britain food.

Slide 17: 

8. On April 7, 1917, Wilson and the U.S Congress declared war on the Central Powers.

Document 1:The following chart shows events leading up to America’s entry in WWI. : 

Document 1:The following chart shows events leading up to America’s entry in WWI.

Document 2: © The Times, May 8, 1915 : 

Document 2: © The Times, May 8, 1915

Document 3: The following are original copies of the Zimmerman Telegram, sent from Germany to Mexico. : 

Document 3: The following are original copies of the Zimmerman Telegram, sent from Germany to Mexico. Coded Telegram Decoded Telegram

Document 4: The following is from a speech given by Woodrow Wilson in 1917, asking Congress to declare war on Germany: : 

Document 4: The following is from a speech given by Woodrow Wilson in 1917, asking Congress to declare war on Germany: I have called the Congress into extraordinary session because there are serious, very serious, choices of policy to be made… The present German submarine warfare is war against mankind. It is a war against all nations. American ships have been sunk, American lives taken. The challenge is to all mankind. Each nation must decide for itself how it will meet it. I advise that Congress declare war on Germany. There are, it may be, many months of fiery trial and sacrifice ahead of us. It is a fearful thing to lead this great peaceful people into war, into the most terrible and disastrous of all wars, civilization itself seeming to be in the balance. But we shall fight for the things which we have always carried nearest our hearts. We shall fight for democracy, for the right of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their own governments, for the rights and liberties of small nations…to make the world itself at last free.