High School History - WW I

Despite this provocation, President Wilson ruled out a military response in

favor of a sharp protest to Germany. Three months later, in August 1915, a U-boat

sank another British liner, the Arabic, drowning two Americans. Again the United

States protested, and this time Germany agreed not to sink any more passenger

ships. But in March 1916 Germany broke its promise and torpedoed an unarmed

French passenger steamer, the Sussex. The Sussex sank, and about 80 passengers,

including Americans, were killed or injured. Once again the United States warned

that it would break off diplomatic relations unless Germany changed its tactics.

Again Germany agreed, but there was a condition: if the United States could not

persuade Britain to lift its blockade against food and fertilizers, Germany would

consider renewing unrestricted submarine warfare.

THE 1916 ELECTION In November 1916 came the U.S. presidential election.

The Democrats renominated Wilson, and the Republicans nominated Supreme

Court Justice Charles Evans Hughes. Wilson campaigned on the slogan “He

Kept Us Out of War.” Hughes pledged to uphold America’s right to freedom

of the seas but also promised not to be too severe on Germany.

The election returns shifted from hour to hour. In fact, Hughes went

to bed believing he had been elected. When a reporter tried to reach him

with the news of Wilson’s victory, an aide said, “The president can’t be

disturbed.” “Well,” replied the reporter, “when he wakes up, tell him

he’s no longer president.”

The United States Declares War

After the election, Wilson tried to mediate between the warring alliances. The

attempt failed. In a speech before the Senate in January 1917, the president called

for “a peace without victory. . . . a peace between equals,” in which neither side

would impose harsh terms on the other. Wilson hoped that all nations would join

in a “league for peace” that would work to extend democracy, maintain freedom of

the seas, and reduce armaments.

GERMAN PROVOCATION The Germans ignored Wilson’s calls for peace.

Germany’s leaders hoped to defeat Britain by resuming unrestricted submarine war-

fare. On January 31 the kaiser announced that U-boats would sink all ships in

British waters—hostile or neutral—on sight. Wilson was stunned. The German deci-

sion meant that the United States would have to go to war. However, the president

held back, saying that he would wait for “actual overt acts” before declaring war.

The overt acts came. First was the

Zimmermann note, a telegram from

the German foreign minister to the

German ambassador in Mexico that was

intercepted by British agents. The

telegram proposed an alliance between

Mexico and Germany and promised

that if war with the United States broke

out, Germany would support Mexico in

recovering “lost territory in Texas, New

Mexico, and Arizona.” Next came the

sinking of four unarmed American mer-

chant ships, with a loss of 36 lives.

Finally, events in Russia removed

the last significant obstacle to direct

U.S. involvement in the war. In March,

the oppressive Russian monarchy was

The First World War 585

E

F

Wilson campaign

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Alliances During WWIAlliances During WWI

Allies

Australia India

Belgium Italy

British Colonies Japan

Canada & Montenegro

Newfoundland New Zealand

France Portugal

French North Romania

Africa & French Russia

Colonies Serbia

Great Britain South Africa

Greece United States

Although not all of the countries listed

above sent troops into the war, they

all joined the war on the Allied side at

various times.

Central Powers

Austria-Hungary

Bulgaria

Germany

Ottoman Empire

MAIN IDEAMAIN IDEA

E

Analyzing

Effects

How did the

German U-boat

campaign affect

U.S. public

opinion?

MAIN IDEAMAIN IDEA

F

Making

Inferences

Why did the

Zimmermann note

alarm the U.S.

government?