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World War I: U.S. Goes to War. 1914-1920. U.S. Neutrality. Pres. Wilson= policy of neutrality I mmigrants from the Central Powers sympathized Most backed the Allies Heritage & Propaganda. U.S. Neutrality. British navy blockaded Germany & laid mines in the N. Sea
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World War I: U.S. Goes to War 1914-1920
U.S. Neutrality • Pres. Wilson= policy of neutrality • Immigrants from the Central Powers sympathized • Most backed the Allies • Heritage & Propaganda
U.S. Neutrality • British navy blockaded Germany & laid mines in the N. Sea • 1915, German responded= war zone around Britain • Any ship= subject to attack
U.S. Neutrality • 5/7/1915, U-boat torpedoed the Lusitania, 128 Americans dead “savages drunk with blood” • Germany’s defense • Announced it was a war zone • Carrying arms for Britain
Road To War • 3/1916, French passenger ship attacked • Wilson threatened diplomatic ties • Germany responded: Sussex Pledge • Promised not to sink liners
Road to War • Accused Wilson= weak, others abandoning neutrality • Military “preparedness” program • Nat’l Defense Act increased # of soldiers in the army • $313 million in naval build up • Still trying to mediate= unsuccessful
Road To War • 2/1917, Germany resumed U-boat warfare • To defeat Allies before U.S. joined • Wilson broke diplomatic ties & armed U.S. ships • Germans sank 5
Road to War • 3/1/1917, Zimmerman Note- intercepted cable • Proposed Mexico alliance w/ Germany • Help MX reconquer NM, TX, & AZ • 4/6/1917, Congress declared war
Quick Review • What was the major issue for the U.S. during it’s policy of neutrality? • What caused Wilson to break off diplomatic relations w/ Germany? • What was the cable known as the Zimmerman Note?
Activity: Graphic Organizer: U.S. Entry into WWI • The dates: March 1916, February 1917, March 1917, April 1917 • Events • Significance
Activity: Decoding the Zimmerman Note • Look at the coded note and the decoded version • By good intelligence the U.S. was able to intercept this message • With a partner, create your own code and write a short message using your code. • Partners will switch messages and try to decode each other’s notes.