Download German Submarines Sink American Ships, March 1917

President Woodrow Wilson
German submarines
United States (U.S) Congress
German/Germany
Zimmerman Telegram
Germany and Mexico
Zimmerman Telegram
German submarines
unarmed American merchant vessels/ships
German/Germany
Germany and Mexico
German Submarines Sink American Ships, March 1917
President Woodrow Wilson
submarine warfare
German submarines
German
Germany
United States (U.S.) Congress
Zimmerman Telegram/Note
American shipping
unarmed American merchant
vessels/ships
declaration of war
hoped to avoid war
sank (sink)
obtained (to get)
March 1917
April 1917
German Submarines Sink American Ships, March 1917
Even after the German announcement of unrestricted submarine warfare and
the publication of the Zimmerman telegram, Wilson still hoped to avoid war. He
decided he would not ask Congress for a declaration unless Germany actually
committed "overt acts" against American shipping. In March 1917, German
submarines then sank several unarmed American merchant vessels. Wilson
addressed Congress and obtained a declaration of war in early April 1917.
Summary Sentence Frame:
Who
Does what
when/where/why
Summary Sentence Frame:
When German submarines sank unarmed American ships, President Wilson asked Congress to declare war in April 1917.
German Submarines Sink American Ships, March 1917
Even after the German announcement of unrestricted
submarine warfare and the publication of the
Zimmerman telegram, Wilson still hoped to avoid war.
He decided he would not ask Congress for a declaration
unless Germany actually committed "overt acts" against
American shipping. In March 1917, German submarines
then sank several unarmed American merchant vessels.
Wilson addressed Congress and obtained a declaration
of war in early April 1917.
American Idealism—Making the World “Safe for Democracy”
An idealistic Progressive, Wilson expanded the American war effort from a defense of "freedom of the seas" to a crusade for
democracy. By the time that Americans entered the war in April1917, Russia had been shaken by the first of two revolutions.
In April 1917, Russia was a democracy, and the Allies had become a league of democratic nations. Wilson therefore told
Congress that the United States was not going to war against the German people, but against their leaders. America's aim in
entering the war was to establish the ultimate peace of the world and to free its peoples: “The world must be made safe for
democracy.” Most Americans found it inspiring to endure the rigors of the war for such high-minded ideals. With a strong
sense of moral superiority, they set out to save and remake the world.
American Idealism—Making the World “Safe for Democracy”
President Wilson
crusade for democracy
“The world must be made safe for democracy.”
high-minded ideals
inspiring
save and remake the world
crusade for democracy
President Woodrow Wilson
The Selective Service Act
conscientious objectors
The committee of public information (CPI)
Propaganda
Mobilization
Allied leaders in Europe hoped that the United States would send fresh troops
to fill their own ranks. Instead, Wilson announced he would keep American
troops together as the million-man American Expeditionary Force (AEF). The AEF
was placed under the command of General Pershing-the same general whom
Wilson had unsuccessfully sent into Mexico chasing Pancho Villa. Despite more
than three years of conflict across the Atlantic, Americans were not prepared
for war in April1917. The first task ahead was mobilizing (bringing into use)
America's vast resources.
The Selective Service Act
Wilson hesitated between raising a voluntary army or relying on conscription. He finally decided
on conscription (or compulsory military service, also known as the "draft"). Because the notion of
"service" was in the air, Congress called its conscription law the "Selective Service Act." Ten
million men immediately registered for the "draft”. Dates of birthdays were chosen out of a glass
jar to determine the order which men would be called to serve. Eventually almost three million
men were drafted into the armed services, while another two million volunteered.
Some men refused to serve because it violated their religious beliefs to kill others. These men
became known as conscientious objectors. Even if they weren't prepared to fight, they were still
expected to report to military camp if they were drafted. Many conscientious objectors were sent
to France to serve in noncombatant roles, such as driving an ambulance or caring for the
wounded. Others were permitted to work on farms in the United States, where there was a
shortage of labor, or to serve as fire fighters. Still others were assigned to the American Friends
Service Committee, a Quaker organization that provided different forms of alternative service for
conscientious objectors. Several hundred conscientious objectors were imprisoned during the
war. Some of these were subjected to unfair treatment, and two even died at the hands of their
jailers.
Mobilization
Wilson
American Expeditionary Force (AEF)
first task ahead
mobilizing
America's vast resources
The Selective Service Act
Selective Service Act/Conscription/the draft/serve/service
Conscientious objectors
The committee of public information (CPI)
Propaganda
keep American troops together