Learning Targets
1. Be able to explain why
tensions increased between
Germany and the United States
2. Decide which reasons
would be most important for each.
3. Analyze and evaluate the Lusitania sinking and decide if it could be avoided.
U.S. Neutral Until 1917 U.S. had no real stake at first, followed isolationism
President Wilson urged ”Be impartial in thought as well as action.”
Wilson was re-electedIn 1916 with the campaign slogan,
“He kept us out of the war!”
8 % of Americans (8 million)had one or more parents born in Germany or Austria
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare (USW)
Submarines (u-boats) attack ships with arms & suppliesGermany did in response to British blockade of neutral ports
German U-boat resumes USW
750,000 German deaths due to famine
Germans printed warnings in newspapers
Which is more immoral- USW or a blockade of civilian goods? Explain.
NOTICES IN THE NEWSPAPER
Would you buy tickets on the Lusitania?
May 7, 1915: Sinking of the Lusitania
128 Americans died; 1,198 killed total
Sinking of the Lusitania. in 18 minutes
MEDIA REACTIONS
The New York Times called the Germans “savages drunk with blood.”
The German press "applauded the attack as an 'extraordinary success,'"
The English Daily Mail referred to it as "The Hun's Most Ghastly Crime."
1916: Sussex pledgeGermany promises to stop USW A mistake?
Kaiser Wilhelm II
Stronger political & economic ties w/ Allies
more trade and loans to Alliestraditional political links
1917: Value of U.S. Loans/Investments• $2.7 billion with Allies• $27 million with Central Powers
1914 United States Trade$ 824.8 million to Allies$ 169.3 million to Central Powers
1916 United States Trade$ 3.2 billion to Allies $ 1.2 million to Central Powers
February 1, 1917: USW resumes• done to try to end stalemate• Wilson cuts off relations w/ Germany
After sinking of the U.S.S. Memphis ordered merchant ships to arm.
March, 1917: Zimmermann Note leaked to press
secret telegram of possible alliance b/t Germany& Mexico with G. promise of NM, TX, and AZ•Americans outraged
Found out Feb. 24th, butPrinted in papers in March
