BY HAYLEY RITTERHERN AND BLAINE RIEGER

The United States Enters World War I

Attitudes of Americans

The United States wished to stay out of WWI and remain neutral. Several actions led to the entering into WWI

President Woodrow Wilson saw the threat that Germany posed to the word

Even though the United States wished to remain neutral, this changed during the sinking of the Lusitania

Attitudes of Americans

The real reason for the United State’s rage towards Germany was seen due to the publication of the Zimmerman Telegram

The actions of Germany

appalled both Woodrow Wilson , and the citizens of the United States

Economic Motivation

U.S. had far stronger ties with Allies Trade with Britain and France

was more than double the trade with Germany from 1914 to 1916 trade with the Allies grew from $

825 million to $ 3.2 billion

U.S. manufactured war supplies (dynamite, cannon power, submarines, armored cars) as per the orders of the Allies

Incidents/Provocations

Propaganda The United States, as did many nations during the war,

used propaganda to promote a war effort or demonize an individual or group

This was an effective tactic seeing that many people were appealed to the visuals that they had to offer

Yellow journalism Yellow journalism differed much to the tactic of

propaganda. It is the falsification or twisting of the facts though

publication for attention of the public Most of the information was slanted towards one

direction in a biased matter Most of the information was misleading

Incidents/Provocations

Lusitania Germany declares unrestricted submarine warfare German submarine sinks Lusitania (British

Transportation vessel) About 1,198 people died because of the sinking of the

Lusitania; 200 of which were American

Zimmerman Note A note written from Germany to México Encrypted, but the message was intercepted Made US aware of Germany’s submarine warfare

declaration Support to México from Germany for Invasion of

Unites States

Propaganda

Source: http://www.emerald-isle-gifts.com/images/articulos/icha162.jpg

Propaganda

Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/%27Destroy_this_mad_brute%27_WWI_propaganda_poster_(US_version).jpg

Allies and Loyalties

Many immigrants with many different opinions (Irish, German, French, Eastern European)

Propaganda Distrust of German immigants and reported incidents

Commonalities with Great Britain (language, democracy, etc) – cultural brothers

Join the Western nations’ fight against German dictatorship