Militarization, or the buildup of warships and other armaments in preparation for war, played a significant role in World War I. By early 1915, the German navy had dispatched a fleet of U-boats, or submarines, around Great Britain to attack both merchant and military ships. Britain had already blockaded Germany when the war first broke out in order to prevent Germany and its allies from receiving imports of food and war materials. In retaliation, Germany declared the North Sea a war zone. These German U-boats acted in direct violation of international law, attacking without warning from beneath the water instead of surfacing and permitting the surrender of civilians or crew. Such attacks are known as unrestricted submarine warfare. On May 7, 1915, the British passenger ship RMS Lusitania was attacked on its way from New York City to Liverpool, England. The German Embassy in the United States had warned that this ship would be subject to attack because it was carrying ammunition, an allegation that later proved true. Nonetheless, almost 1,200 civilians died in the attack, including 128 Americans. The attack shocked the world and tested President Wilson’s desire to stay out of what had been a largely European conflict.

Question

In January 1917, British intelligence intercepted and decoded a top-secret telegram that Arthur Zimmermann, the German State Secretary for Foreign Affairs—similar to the U.S. Secretary of State—sent to the German ambassador to Mexico. In the telegram, Zimmerman instructed the German ambassador that if the U.S. entered the war, he should convince Mexico to join the war effort on the German side. The telegram also encouraged Mexico to invade the United States if this happened. German intelligence thought that if Mexico invaded the U.S., it would create a diversion and provide Germany a clear path to victory in the war. In exchange for Mexico’s help, Zimmermann offered to help Mexico regain land that it had lost to the U.S. in the Mexican-American War, including Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. At the time, Mexico was battling its own revolution and civil war. Its likelihood of waging war against the U.S. and recovering lost territory was remote at best. But the sneaky plans outlined in the Zimmermann telegram, combined with Germany’s submarine warfare tactics that were sinking American ships, made a powerful argument for the U.S. to enter the war.

America was initially neutral about conflicts in Europe. Describe at least 2 events that made our policy change and brought the U.S. into World War One.

Remember that all responses must be answered with a minimum of 3 sentences.

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Answer 1

Two significant events that shifted America's neutral stance and eventually led to its entry into World War I were the unrestricted submarine warfare by Germany and the interception of the Zimmermann Telegram. The German U-boats, which targeted both merchant and military ships without warning, exemplified a blatant disregard for international law and resulted in the tragic sinking of the RMS Lusitania, where nearly 1,200 civilians lost their lives, including 128 Americans. This incident particularly shocked the American public and tested President Wilson's commitment to neutrality.

Additionally, the Zimmermann Telegram further fueled U.S. sentiment against Germany. In the telegram, Arthur Zimmermann proposed that Mexico join the war on the side of Germany and even suggested that Mexico could invade the U.S. in exchange for support in reclaiming territory lost during the Mexican-American War. This overt attempt by Germany to incite conflict with the U.S. combined with prior acts of aggression made a compelling case for the United States to abandon its neutral position and ultimately enter the war.