Question: What caused the US to enter WWI in 1917? (scroll down for answer)

Answer:

Unlike in Global Studies, there isn't that much to know about WWI in US History. First, the causes for US entry:

Just like with the Spanish American War, it's good to know ... THE BOAT AND THE NOTE!

1. The Boat = The Lusitania. It was a passenger ship sailing off the coast of Ireland. It was sunk by a German submarine (u-boat) on May 7, 1915. The US warned Germany to refrain from continued submarine warfare. However, the Germans would not stop.

2. The Note = The Zimmerman Telegram. In 1917, the British intercepted a telegram from Arthur Zimmerman of Germany. He was writing to Mexico seeking an alliance. He hoped for a Mexican invasion of America where territory lost in the Mexican War would be reclaimed.  The Germans also promised to continue a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare.

Wilson would ask Congress to declare war in April of 1917. He was hoping to make the world "safe for democracy."

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