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Social Studies 10R – Mr. Berman
Aim 4: How did the U.S. get involved in World War I? Was it necessary?
Historical Context: World War I was not just a western European war, but a truly global conflict. In Eastern Europe,
the Germans battled the Russians on the eastern front. Russia was not yet industrialized, and the army was always short
on food, guns, ammunition and clothing. They suffered horrible losses against the Germans (2 million soldiers killed,
wounded or captured in 1915 alone), but thanks to Russia’s large size and population, they were able to keep raising
soldiers and stay in the war. In the Middle East, the British and French attack the Ottoman Empire along the Gallipoli
Peninsula, but this ended up being another stalemate. Additionally, the British, French and Germans depended on their
colonies for soldiers and supplies, which brought Asia and Africa into the war. One of the last major countries to enter
World War I was the United States. The following passages will explain why this happened:
In 1915, the Germans wanted to use their submarines to blockade Great Britain. Germans announce that they will sink
without warning any ship in the waters around Britain (unrestricted submarine warfare)
1. What do you think was the purpose of the German blockade of Great Britain?
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2. Do you think Germany’s policy of unrestricted submarine warfare was justified? Explain
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3. How do you think the United States will feel about this policy? Why?
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On May 7, 1915 the British “civilian passenger
ship” Lusitania was torpedoed by a German
submarine, the U-20. The Lusitania sank after a
second massive internal explosion blew out her
starboard bow. Over 1,000 British civilians were
killed along with 128 U.S. citizens.
The Germans immediately claimed that the
Lusitania sank so quickly because the torpedo hit
weapons being secretly carried on board which
caused the second explosion. The U.S. and
British governments denied that the Lusitania was carrying any explosives and claimed that the sinking was yet another
example of the "barbarity" of the German war machine.
British documents later confirmed that the Lusitania was carrying weapons from the U.S. to Britain. By international law,
the presence of military cargo made the Lusitania a legitimate target. Included in this cargo were 4,200,000 rounds of
Remington .303 rifle cartridges, 1250 cases of shrapnel 3 inch (76 mm) mortar shells, and eighteen cases of fuses.
4. What happened to the British cruise ship Lusitania? When and why did this happen?
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5. Why might this event help pull the U.S. into World War I? ___________________________________
6. Was the U.S. truly neutral in 1915? Explain. ______________________________________________
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7. Was Germany justified in sinking the British “passenger” ship Lusitania?
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The Zimmerman Telegram: Intercepted communication between Germany and Mexico, January 1917
(Below: Encoded version of telegram)
8. What deal is Germany proposing to Mexico?
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9. How will this telegram, once printed in U.S.
newspapers, impact public opinion?
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U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, April 1917
“Vessels (ships) of every kind, whatever their flag, their character, their cargo, their destination, their errand, have been
ruthlessly sent to the bottom without warning and without thought of help or mercy for those on board, the vessels of friendly
neutrals along with those of belligerents (those at war). Even hospital ships and ships carrying relief to the sorely bereaved and
stricken people of Belgium, though ... distinguished by unmistakable marks of identity, have been sunk with the same reckless lack
of compassion or of principle. It is a war against all nations. American ships have been sunk, American lives taken, in ways which it
has stirred us very deeply to learn of, but the ships and people of other neutral and friendly nations have been sunk and
overwhelmed in the waters in the same way. There has been no discrimination. The challenge is to all mankind… I advise that the
Congress declare the recent course of the Imperial German Government to be in fact nothing less than war against the Government
and people of the United States… [The German] government entertains no real friendship for us and means to act against our peace
and security at its convenience. That it means to stir up enemies against us at our very doors the intercepted note to the German
Minister at Mexico City is … evidence.”
“We are glad, now that we see the facts …to fight thus for the ultimate peace of the world and for the liberation of its peoples,
the German peoples included: for the rights of nations great and small and the privilege of men everywhere to choose their way of
life and of obedience. The world must be made safe for democracy. Its peace must be planted upon the tested foundations of
political liberty. We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion….we shall fight for the things which we
have always carried nearest our hearts -- for democracy, for the right of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their own
governments, for the rights and liberties of small nations, for a universal dominion of right by such a concert of free peoples as shall
bring peace and safety to all nations and make the world itself at last free.”
10. What does Woodrow Wilson accuse the German Government of and how does he view their actions?
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11. State three reasons Woodrow Wilson think the U.S. needs to fight in World War I? Do you agree with his logic/rationale?
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