US_Ch6_webquest-4

=**U.S. Becomes Involved in the War**=

The U.S. traded with both Britain and Germany. However, more of the U.S. trade was going to Britain. Germany wanted to find a way to keep Britain from getting trade goods, especially war goods. Therefore, the Germans had a new weapon that they used to gain control of the Atlantic Ocean, the U-boat: - U-boat sinking a naval ship


 * 10.** On your daily lesson guide - how were U-boats effective?


 * 11.** On your map of the world, draw the zone in 1915 that Germany would sink ships. The map below can help you.

Watch the video on the sinking of the //Lusitania//: media type="custom" key="24207824"


 * 12.** On your daily lesson guide - why did Germany want to sink the //Lusitania//, since it was only suppose to be carrying civilians?
 * 13.** On your daily lesson guide - how did U.S. public opinion change toward Germany?

> Notice!Travellers intending to embark on the Atlantic voyage are reminded that a state of war exists between Germany and her allies and Great Britain and her allies; that the zone of war includes the waters adjacent to the British Isles; that, in accordance with formal notice given by the Imperial German Government, vessels flying the flag of Great Britain, or any of her allies, are liable to destruction in those waters and that travellers sailing in the war zone on the ships of Great Britain or her allies do so at their own risk.Imperial German EmbassyWashington, D.C. 22nd April 1915 >
 * 14.** On your daily lesson guide - read the warning below given by the German Embassy in D.C. What was the warning?
 * 15.** On your world map - draw the sinking of the //Lusitania//. The map below can help you.

After the sinking of the //Lusitania,// the U.S. was justified to go to war. However, Wilson knew that the American people a response to Germany, but didn't want to get involved in Europe's war. Had the U.S. gone to war, America would have made a much earlier impact and the war would've ended much earlier and Europe would've been spared the rise of Vladimir Lenin and Communism in Russia. However, Wilson would negotiate the Arabic Pledge with Germany and later the Sussex Pledge, which German U-boats would surface and fire a warning shot. However, British Q-ships, which were disguised as merchant ships, would fire on German U-boats when they surfaced. This posed a problem for Germany.


 * 16.** On your daily lesson guide - fill in the blanks on the U.S. response to U-boats. Then, answer how you would've handled the situation if you were president.

In 1916, Wilson ran for re-election with the slogan "He kept us out of the war." and defeated Charles Evans Hughes (R) 277-254 in the electoral college.
 * 17.** On your daily lesson guide - answer what helped Wilson win re-election.

Staying neutral was proving to be difficult, especially since the U.S. had grown into a world power and had an abundance of goods that foreign nations desired, which made the U.S. a major power in the world of trade. At the same time, Germany saw that control of the Atlantic and stopping Transatlantic trade to Britain is all that was necessary to win the war, since Russia was having its own problems with the Communists trying to take power and France close to collapsing.Germany wasn't too concerned about the U.S. entering the war since Wilson was involved with problems in Mexico and America didn't enter the war when entering was justifiable to the public after the sinking of the //Lusitania//. To stop all trade with Britain and to combat Q-ships, Germany announced unrestricted submarine warfare would begin February 1, 1917. Also, a message from Arthur Zimmerman to his Mexican counterpart offered an alliance between Germany and Mexico that if Mexico entered into war against the U.S, then Germany would help Mexico get back lost territory in the American Southwest. This was called the Zimmerman Telegram. - Arthur Zimmerman Below is the Zimmerman Telegram text:

//We intend to begin on the 1st 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 re-conquer the lost territory in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. The settlement in detail is left to you. You will inform the President 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. // Signed, Zimmerman.


 * 18.** On your daily lesson guide - what are the 2 major reasons America entered the war against the Central Powers?

The U.S. declared war on the Central Powers April 6, 1917 (Good Friday) to - in the words of President Wilson - "make the world safe for Democracy." - Wilson's war message to Congress

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