WWI and US Involvement

The First World War
American Involvement

Brief Chronology of WWI

1914

* Germany invades Belgium.
* Britain declares war on Germany.
* Japan joins the Allied forces:
Ottoman Empire soon joins the Central Powers.
* War spreads to the seas.

1915

* Women take up men's jobs.
* Stalemate continues on the Western Front.
* The Lusitania passenger liner is sunk, with 1,200 lives lost.
* London attacked from the air by German Zeppelins.

1916

* Conscription for men aged between 18 and 41.
* A million casualties in ten months: Germany aims to 'bleed France white'.
* At sea the Battle of Jutland takes place.
* Armed uprisings in Dublin: the Irish Republic is proclaimed.


America Declares War

Below is the formal declaration of War as presented to Congress By President Wilson
Joint Resolution Declaring that a state of war exists between the Imperial German Government and the Government and the people of the United States and making provision to prosecute the same.

Whereas the Imperial German Government has committed repeated acts of war against the Government and the people of the United States of America; Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress Assembled, that the state of war between the United States and the Imperial German Government which has thus been thrust upon the United States is hereby formally declared; and that the President be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of the United States and the resources of the Government to carry on war against the Imperial German Government; and to bring the conflict to a successful termination all of the resources of the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States.

CHAMP CLARK
Speaker of the House of Representatives
THOS. R. MARSHALL
Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate

Approved, April 6, 1917
WOODROW WILSON

Secondary Documents

U.S. President Woodrow Wilson outlined the case for declaring war upon Germany in a speech to the joint houses of Congress on 2 April 1917.

A formal declaration of war followed four days later, on 6 April 1917.

Use the link below to review a Second Order Document that further explains Wilson's views as he addresses congress

Wilson's speech followed the dispatch of a diplomatic note to the U.S. Secretary of State, Robert Lansing. In the note the German government announced a re-opened German policy of unrestricted submarine warfare (initially introduced and then rapidly abandoned in 1916 owing to U.S. protests).

http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/wilson.htm

Germany’s Response

Germany’s response was swift and to the point. Their views are expressed in the document at the link provided.
Reproduced below is the text of German Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg's response to news that U.S. President Woodrow Wilson was to appear before the U.S. Congress on 2 April 1917 to seek authorization for a declaration of war with Germany.

In his response von Bethmann-Hollweg reiterated the German view that war with America was avoidable and that the former's decision to renew a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare was only taken in response to Britain's continued "illegal and indefensible" naval blockade of Germany.

http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/usawar_bethmann.htm

World Views
There were many reactions from around the world as well as the US itself. I am asking you to research additional documents to either agree/disagree with the US decision to got to War.