US WW1 Entry (1917)

Question 1

Wilson’s Vision of Post-War Peace Settlement

Answer 1

• An international association for nations to join
• A guarantee of rights for all people
• Internationally agreed sanctions for aggressors
• The transfer of munitions manufacturing from profit-making companies to governments

Question 2

Black Tom’s Munition Plant (30th July 1916)

Answer 2

• An example of German activities within the US
• Black Tom’s Munition Plant, located in Jersey City Harbour, mysteriously exploded
• Explosion caused $20 million worth of damage
• An estimate of 2 million pounds of ammunition blew up
• German saboteurs were blamed although, no-one was ever brought to trial

Question 3

German Resumption of Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

Answer 3

• 31st Jan 1917: Germany gave 8 hours notice, intended to sink all ships within the war zone around British waters
• German government believed they could starve Britain into surrender
• Germans hoped that if the US declared war, the Allies, lacking food and war materials imported from the US, would surrender before the Americans could cross the submarine-infested Atlantic
• Wilson privately considered the Kaiser as insane
• 3rd Feb 1917: Wilson broke off diplomatic relations with Germany
• Feb/Mar 1917: Several US ships were sunk by German U-Boards

Question 4

The Zimmerman Telegram (Jan 1917)

Answer 4

• A coded telegram from the German Foreign Ambassador, Arthur Zimmerman, was sent to the German Ambassador in Mexico, Heinrich von Eckhart on Jan 16th 1917
• It told Heinrich to propose to the Mexican gov to form a secret alliance with Germany in case the US went to war
• Feb 1917: US Ambassador in Britain sent an intercept of the telegram to the State Department
• The German Ambassador in Mexico had not acted on the instruction and Mexico knew nothing of it
• Wilson was affronted by this telegram

Question 5

US Declaration of War (April 1917)

Answer 5

• Wilson asked Congress for the authority to make war on Germany
• Realised he had little choice and that the US had been provoked until its credibility was threatened
• The Allies were also in trouble
• Feb/Mar 1917: 1 million tonnes of Allied shipping was sunk by U-Boats
• Wilson feared that the Allies defeat was becoming increasingly likely if the US involvement was not forthcoming