Reasons for U.S. Involvement

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Reasons for U.S. Involvement

• Submarine Warfare (sinking the Lusitania)
• Economic ties to Britain
• Zimmerman Telegram

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The Lusitania

• British passenger liner that was sunk by a German
  u-boat in 1915
• Killed 120 Americans
• Spurred anti-German sentiment in U.S.

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Economic Ties to Britain

• U.S. loaned large amounts of money to Britain
• If Britain lost, U.S. would lose its money

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The Zimmerman Note

• Message sent in 1917 from German foreign minister
  Arthur Zimmerman to Mexico
• Offered to give lands from U.S. lost in Mexican
  war if Mexico would align themselves with Germany

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Convoy System

• The protection of merchant ship from u-boat
  attacks
• Ships travel in large groups escorted by warships

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Selective Service Act

• A law enacted in 1917 that required men to
  register for military service
• Still in action today

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The War at Home
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The War Industries Board

• Forced companies to make military goods

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Committee on Public Information

• Nations first propaganda agency
• Painted Germans as evil monsters

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Food Administration

• Encouraged the U.S. to conserve food that could
  be used in the war effort Rationing

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Wilsons Fourteen Points

• Wilsons plan for peace following World War I

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Wilsons Fourteen Points

• No secret treaties among nations
• Freedom of the seas
• A reduction in arms
• Tariffs should be abolished in order to foster
  free trade
• Colonial powers should look out for the interests
  of the people in their colonies

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League of Nations

• Concept conceived by Woodrow Wilson
• Association established in 1920 to promote
  international cooperation

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Henry Cabot Lodge

• Opposed the League of Nations
• Influenced the defeat of American involvement in
  the League of Nations
• Feared permanent alliances

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Treaty of Versailles

• Peace treaty that ended WWI
• Forced Germany to pay reparations
• Forced Germany limit the size of their military
• Forced Germans to sign a war-guilt clause

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Espionage and Sedition Act

• Made it illegal to
• interfere with the draft
• Obstruct the sale of Liberty Bonds
• Criticize the government or constitution

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Schenk v. U.S.

• Schenk was arrested for urging draftees not to
  report for duty during WWI
• Supreme Court said government could silent free
  speech when clear and present danger was
  involved