Chapter 19 Section 2
The United States Declares War
U-boat
• A German submarine
What was the result of the Battle of
Jutland?
• Naval battle
• Both the German and
and British fleets
suffered heavy losses
• Neither side could claim
victory
Based on the results of the Battle of Jutland, what
conclusion did the Germans reach on how to attack the
British navy?
• This stalemate meant
that the U-boat was the
only tool the Germans
had to fight the British
blockade and to target
Allied shipping and
transport
Lusitania
• British cruise ship
• Making its way from
NYC to Britain
• Secretly carrying
weapons to Britain
• Sunk by German U-boat
“without warning”
• Killing 1,200
– 128 Americans
How did President Wilson respond to
the sinking of the Lusitania?
• Urged patience
• Demanded that
Germany stopped its
submarine warfare and
make payments to the
families of victims
• Many angered by Uboats sinking ships
without warning
Sussex Pledge
• The German
government promised
that U-boats would
warn ships before
attacking
– Not the first promise the
Germans made to limit
U-boat attacks
How did the Sussex Pledge affect relations
between the United States and Germany?
• It created a temporary
peace
– But American patience
was being tested
Why did Germany end the Sussex
Pledge?
• Germany hoped to
defeat Britain and win
the war in France
before American entry
into the war could make
a difference
Why did Germany’s use of U-boats
lead to conflict with the United States?
• Ships had no warning or
defense against U-boats
• Submarines attacked
American and other
neutral ships
• The German
government broke its
promises about
restricting its
submarines
Wilson ran for reelection in 1916 using
what slogan?
• “He kept us out of war”
Zimmerman Note
• Note from Germany to
Mexico
• Proposed that if the
U.S. were to declare
war on Germany and
Mexico would help the
Germans…
– Germany would help
Mexico regain Texas,
Arizona, and New
Mexico
Why did the Zimmerman Note enrage
Americans?
• Wilson did not take it
super seriously, but it
angered Americans
because it was an
attempt to secretly
draw Mexico into the
war and reward it with
U.S. territory
Autocrat
• A ruler with unlimited
power
– Like Czar Nicholas II of
Russia
– The U.S. was nervous
about joining an alliance
with a country headed
by such a leader
Russian Revolution
• March 1917- Czar
Nicholas II removed
from power
• Made the U.S. feel
better about joining the
Allies
• This ultimately led to
another revolution in
November that led to
the rise of Communism
What idealistic reason to go to war did President
Wilson give to Congress on April 2nd, 1917?
How did Congress respond to Wilson’s
call to war?
• The approved a
declaration of war
• The war resolution
passed in the Senate 82
to 6
• It passed in the House
of Representatives 373
to 50
• U.S. joins war April 6,
1917