Download Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School United States

Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School
United States History, Mr. Espin
United States Entry into World War I
LT: I CAN –explain what caused US entry into World War I
DO NOW: Bullet point the reasons for American isolationism at the onset of WWI.
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FOCUS:
A major part of the British strategy, because of its powerful navy, was to apply
a blockade on Germany. Consequently, American trade with the Central Powers
simply could not be permitted. The results of the blockade were astonishing.
Trade with England and France more than tripled between 1914 and 1916, while
trade with Germany was cut by over ninety percent.
Yet, this blockade led to submarine (U-boats) warfare by the Germans all
throughout the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
GERMAN U-BOAT BLOCKADE
BRITISH NAVAL BLOCKADE
Lusitania (1915)
The first submarine attack to inflame American opinion was the sinking of the Lusitania in May
1915. The Lusitania left New York with a cargo of passengers and cargo. When the ship was
sunk over 1150 passengers were lost including 115 Americans. In the months that followed
further sinkings brought more angry warnings from President Woodrow Wilson.
DOES THE SINKING OF THE LUSITANIA CAUSE US ENTRY INTO WORLD WAR I?
Y / N
Unrestricted U-Boat attacks and Freedom of the Seas (1914 through 1917)
The Germans felt the British blockade was a clear attempt to starve the German people into
submission and felt the need to retaliate with similar force.
Germany could not possibly deal with British naval strength on an even basis, and the only
possible way Germany could impose a blockade on Britain was through the U-boat. Germany felt
that such a submarine blockade, based on "shoot without warning", was a necessary strategy to
survive the war, even though it might cause a neutral country like the United States to turn against
Germany because it violated the idea of “freedom of the seas”.
DO UNRESTRICTED U-BOAT ATTACKS ALONE CAUSE US ENTRY INTO WORLD WAR I?
Y / N
Zimmerman Note/Telegram (1917)
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WHAT WAS THE RESULT OF THE ZIMMERMAN NOTE/TELEGRAM?