World War I: America Enters the War Notes
President Wilson wanted the U.S. to remain neutral but neutrality became impossible to
maintain…
1. The United States had strong economic and political ties to Great Britian. The
U.S. was under pressure to help Great Britain.
2. In May 1915, a Germnay U-boat (submarine) torpedoed the British passenger
ship Lusitania, killing 1,198 people including 128 Americans. U.S. President
Woodrow Wilson demanded that Germany stop unrestricted submarine warfare.
Germany agreed- temporarily.
3. The Zimmermann Telegram also angered America. In it, Germany proposed
that Mexico join the Germans. In exchange, Germany would help Mexico get back
its “lost territories” of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.