Reasons US Entered WWI
By: Tiffany Grainger
Let's sum it all up..
Sinking of the Lusitania
On May 7, 1915, the British passenger ship The Lusitania was carrying passengers to Great Britain and was sank by German sub U-20. The ship was sank so that Germany could collect contraband that was being sent to Britain and France, but among the dead of the Lusitania were 128 Americans. This outraged America.
Unrestricted Sub Warfare
After sinking the Lusitania, Germany makes a promise not to sink anymore passenger ships. They soon broke that promise sinking The Sussex, resulting in The Sussex Pledge. Germany then broke the promise as well and on February 1, 1917 begins unrestricted submarine warfare on any ships they come across. This further angers Americans.
The Zimmerman Letter
With Americans already furious at Germany, they decide to ask Mexico to join their war effort, offering the land they lost in the Spanish-American war as a reward. However, the letter was secretly picked up by Britain and turned over to the US. This was the last reason America needed for President Wilson to declare war on Germany in April 6, 1917.
Woodrow Wilson
Though he pledged to keep America out of World War I, Wilson was obliged to declare war on Germany after the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare in early 1917
Convincing congress to declare war..
He went before congress on April 2, 1917 to ask for a decleration of war with the slogan "make the world safe for democracy."
German U-Boats
The use of unrestricted submarine warfare was to have a major impact on World War One as it was one of the main reasons why America joined the war. American ships were topedoed with German U-boats.