The United States enters World War 1

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!

Many immigrants did not want the U.S. to get involved in WW1. How do you think this German

immigrant family may have felt?

German submarines were sinking Allied ships in Europe

In 1915, German submarines sank this passenger ship from Great Britain-The Lusitania. Over 100

Americans on board died.

How did many Americans feel when this

drawing was printed in newspapers?

President Wilson wrote an angry letter to the German government telling them the U.S. did NOT

approve sinking civilian (non military) ships!!!!!!

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!

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

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

On April 6, 1917 Congress met to declare war on Germany and the U.S. was into

World War One!

Young men from all across the U.S. volunteered to go across the ocean and fight

for the U.S. in the war.

General John Pershing was placed in charge of all of America’s troops by

President Wilson

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