United States Declares War

U-Boats

• German Submarines – Americans didn't feel that the use of submarines

was a far way of waging war.– Americans felt that U-boat warfare was

uncivilized.– Germans sink the Lusitania

• There were 128 Americans on board• The sinking of the vessel was seen as barbarism by

Americans.

  

Moving Toward War

• Anti-war senators try to stop Wilson from getting us more involved in the war by the use of a filibuster.– A filibuster is a tactic in which senators take the

floor, begin talking, and refuse to stop talking to permit a vote on a measure.

Moving Toward War

• Zimmerman telegram - A telegram to Mexico from Germany that said they are going to try to keep the U.S. neutral but if we join the war they propose Mexico should ally with Germany.– Mexico would get its lost territories back (Texas, New

Mexico and Arizona)– Neither the U.S. or Mexico took it seriously– Gained more support to go to war in the U.S.

Moving Toward War• March 1917 Germany sinks two U.S. ships

– They sink the City of Memphis and Vigilancia.– March 20 Wilson and his cabinet vote unanimously for war– Senate votes for war by a margin of 82 to 6– House votes for war by a margin of 373 to 50

• April 6, 1917 Wilson signs the declaration of war