PUSHING US TOO FAR
CENTER TARGETI can explain the events that brought the United States into World War I.
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READ ABOUT IT!
Welcome to the Pushing US Too Far Virtual Center. The first thing your group needs to do is read about the reasons America entered World War I. After you read, you need to work together to complete the Pushing US Too Far Center Page in your Lesson Chronicles.
PUSHING US TOO FAR
When World War I began in 1914, it seemed like something far away. The war was between nations on the other side of the world, and the people of the United States were glad that it was so far away. We were content with things the way they were here and had no wish to become involved in Europe's war.
Gradually that feeling of isolationism began to change. Several events changed the hearts and minds of the American people. These events made Americans angry and made them decide that they would no longer be a nation of isolationists. Instead, they decided that they would be a nation of avengers!
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
When the Schlieffen plan failed, Germany knew they would not be able to defeat France quickly. So they changed their strategy and decided to focus on Great Britain. Despite the Kaiser’s military build-up, Germany’s navy was still not as good as Britain's. So the Germans created new technologies that gave them the chance that they had been waited for. This was the chance to compete with Great Britain in the war at sea.
Germany developed what they called “unterseeboots,” U-boats or submarines. U-boats that could prowl the oceans unseen proved highly effective. In the first ten weeks of operation, fewer than thirty German subs sank five British ships. In September of 1914, they sank three warships in just one hour!
However, use of these weapons also caused some problems. Because submarines travel underwater, their crews could not know for certain if ships on the surface were enemy warships, neutral merchant ships, or passenger ships. U-boats gave no warning before attacks, so people on merchant and passenger ships had almost no time to escape before they sank. The Germans came up with a temporary solution for a short time. The solution was to surface the U-boats to check the target ship's status before firing.
This plan worked for a short while, until the British began to use Q-ships. These vessels were designed to look like merchant vessels, but were heavily armed and staffed by the navy. When U-boats came to the surface, they became targets for the Q-ships. After losing several subs to the British, Germany reverted to their earlier approach and attacked without warning.
The Germans drew a “war zone” on the map and warned that all ships in that zone were fair game. This became known as unrestricted submarine warfare. American merchants were furious, since Germany’s “war zone” included their trade routes to Great Britain. U-boat attacks caused great concern in the United States, and officials knew the problem would only get worse.
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TOOL BOX
Important Vocabulary
ammunition: the objects such as bullets, shells, and grenades that are shot from weapons or used as explosives
avengers: people who set out to harm or punish someone who has done them harm or has done harm to someone or something they care about Black Tom Explosion: an act of German sabotage where a stockpile of munitions that America had planned to send to the Allies was destroyed blockade: to stop people or supplies from entering or leaving a country during a war democracy: the belief in freedom and equality between people; a form of government in which the people rule, either directly or through elected representatives economy: the way in which a nation uses its resources and how it makes and spends its money Great Phenol Plot: when Heinrich Albert, a German spy, was caught by the American Secret Service for attempting to sabotage America's supply of Phenol which could be used to make explosives intercepted: stopping someone or something from getting to a desired place isolationism: a policy of remaining neutral in other nations' conflicts and wars merchant ships: ships with crews that are hired by people or businesses to transport people or goods or to carry cargo passenger ships: merchant ships that transport people from one place to another propaganda: an idea or statement that is either false or exaggerated and is spread in order to help a political cause, a political leader, or a government Q-ships: British vessels designed to look like merchant vessels but were heavily armed and staffed by the navy The Lusitania: a British luxury passenger ship carrying American passengers and secretly carrying ammunition to Great Britain that was sunk by a German U-boat on May 7, 1915 U-boats: German submarines unrestricted submarine warfare: a type of naval warfare in which submarines sink any vessels that enter a war zone without warning Zimmerman Telegram: a secret telegram sent by Germany to Mexico in January 1917 asking Mexico to join the Central Powers if the United States declared war on Germany in return for Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona if the Central Powers won the war |
The Lusitania
Another event that brought America closer to war was the sinking of the Lusitania. The Lusitania was a British ship that carried both cargo and passengers. It made the trip back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean, carrying travelers between Great Britain and the United States. Fast and luxurious, the Lusitania was a popular ship; it had been described as a floating palace.
In May 1915, the Lusitania was crossing the Atlantic Ocean. In addition to about 2,000 passengers, it was also carrying a cargo of ammunition for the Allies. On May 7, German submarines torpedoed the Lusitania. In twenty minutes, the Lusitania was gone, sunk to the bottom of the ocean. About 1,200 passengers went down with the ship, including many Americans. After that, U.S. citizens began to think of Germany as a "bully" and to side with the Allies.
In May 1915, the Lusitania was crossing the Atlantic Ocean. In addition to about 2,000 passengers, it was also carrying a cargo of ammunition for the Allies. On May 7, German submarines torpedoed the Lusitania. In twenty minutes, the Lusitania was gone, sunk to the bottom of the ocean. About 1,200 passengers went down with the ship, including many Americans. After that, U.S. citizens began to think of Germany as a "bully" and to side with the Allies.
Germany had made promises not to sink ships without first giving a warning so that passengers could leave the ship. However, this was wartime, and Germany did not always keep its promises. Then, Germany began to blockade Great Britain, attacking more and more ships.
These attacks caused problems for the U.S. economy. It made it difficult for U.S. businesses to make money. Businesses needed to be able to travel freely on the seas to deal with foreign countries, especially Great Britain.
These attacks caused problems for the U.S. economy. It made it difficult for U.S. businesses to make money. Businesses needed to be able to travel freely on the seas to deal with foreign countries, especially Great Britain.
Propaganda
Government officials in the United States began to think that maybe the U.S. would have to enter the war to protect its own interests. They began to try to change people's minds about the war. The government began a propaganda campaign which included parades in support of the Allies and leaflets that pictured the Germans as fierce barbarians. They also began to build up the number of troops in the Army, the Navy, and the Reserves. They began building more Navy ships. A National Security Committee was formed.
While all of this was going on, many Americans still hoped to stay out of the war. President Wilson still hoped for the United States to remain neutral. He did not want the U.S. to be pulled into the war. In a speech, he said, "There is such a thing as a man being too proud to fight."
While all of this was going on, many Americans still hoped to stay out of the war. President Wilson still hoped for the United States to remain neutral. He did not want the U.S. to be pulled into the war. In a speech, he said, "There is such a thing as a man being too proud to fight."
The Zimmerman Telegram
Then, on January 16, 1917, another event occurred that brought us even closer to war. Great Britain showed the United States a telegram that it had intercepted and decoded. The telegram was from the German Foreign Minister, Arthur Zimmerman, to the German Ambassador in the United States. The telegram said that he should invite Mexico to join an alliance with Germany. The telegram said that if Mexico joined the alliance, Germany would help it win back Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona from the United States. The war had come closer to home. The Zimmerman Telegram angered Americans and increased the desire for the United States to go to war.
A Time For War
Unrestricted Submarine warfare, the sinking of the Lusitania, and the Zimmerman telegram were just three of the things that had Americans demanding that the United States go to war. Our economy and our independence on the seas and on our homeland were threatened. Finally, President Wilson felt that he had no other choice. He decided that the U.S. should enter the war. Many reasons had led up to his decision, but he wanted to give the American people one good reason to support the war. So he only said, "The world must be made safe for democracy," when he declared war on April 6, 1917.
ANALYZE IT!
In today's Analyze It Activity, you will work in pairs and use the Threat Cards embedded below to complete the embedded assignment page. Read and order their cards based on the “threat levels” posed by each. Use the assignment form to help guide your thoughts and to submit your answers.
- First, read each card.
- Decide if each situation threatens American security, American interests, America's economy, or American democracy. Does it threaten more than one?
- For each type of threat you identify, cite evidence from the card to support your opinion.
- Put the cards in order from the greatest threat to the least threatening.
- Answer the questions after you finish organizing the card order.
- Be ready to discuss your answers in class.
Analyzing the Threats
Ranking the Threats
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PROVE IT!
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