Despite this provocation, President Wilson ruled out a military response in
favor of a sharp protest to Germany. Three months later, in August 1915, a U-boat
sank another British liner, the Arabic, drowning two Americans. Again the United
States protested, and this time Germany agreed not to sink any more passenger
ships. But in March 1916 Germany broke its promise and torpedoed an unarmed
French passenger steamer, the Sussex. The Sussex sank, and about 80 passengers,
including Americans, were killed or injured. Once again the United States warned
that it would break off diplomatic relations unless Germany changed its tactics.
Again Germany agreed, but there was a condition: if the United States could not
persuade Britain to lift its blockade against food and fertilizers, Germany would
consider renewing unrestricted submarine warfare.
THE 1916 ELECTION
In November 1916 came the U.S. presidential election.
The Democrats renominated Wilson, and the Republicans nominated Supreme
Court Justice Charles Evans Hughes. Wilson campaigned on the slogan “He
Kept Us Out of War.” Hughes pledged to uphold America’s right to freedom
of the seas but also promised not to be too severe on Germany.
The election returns shifted from hour to hour. In fact, Hughes went
to bed believing he had been elected. When a reporter tried to reach him
with the news of Wilson’s victory, an aide said, “The president can’t be
disturbed.” “Well,” replied the reporter, “when he wakes up, tell him
he’s no longer president.”
The United States Declares War
After the election, Wilson tried to mediate between the warring alliances. The
attempt failed. In a speech before the Senate in January 1917, the president called
for “a peace without victory. . . . a peace between equals,” in which neither side
would impose harsh terms on the other. Wilson hoped that all nations would join
in a “league for peace” that would work to extend democracy, maintain freedom of
the seas, and reduce armaments.
GERMAN PROVOCATION
The Germans ignored Wilson’s calls for peace.
Germany’s leaders hoped to defeat Britain by resuming unrestricted submarine war-
fare. On January 31 the kaiser announced that U-boats would sink all ships in
British waters—hostile or neutral—on sight. Wilson was stunned. The German deci-
sion meant that the United States would have to go to war. However, the president
held back, saying that he would wait for “actual overt acts” before declaring war.
The overt acts came. First was the
Zimmermann note, a telegram from
the German foreign minister to the
German ambassador in Mexico that was
intercepted by British agents. The
telegram proposed an alliance between
Mexico and Germany and promised
that if war with the United States broke
out, Germany would support Mexico in
recovering “lost territory in Texas, New
Mexico, and Arizona.” Next came the
sinking of four unarmed American mer-
chant ships, with a loss of 36 lives.
Finally, events in Russia removed
the last significant obstacle to direct
U.S. involvement in the war. In March,
the oppressive Russian monarchy was
The First World War 585
E
F
E. Answer
Because the
U-boat campaign
killed Americans
and destroyed
American prop-
erty, it turned
American public
opinion against
Germany.
Wilson campaign
button
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Alliances During WWI
Alliances During WWI
Allies
Australia India
Belgium Italy
British Colonies Japan
Canada & Montenegro
Newfoundland New Zealand
France Portugal
French North Romania
Africa & French Russia
Colonies Serbia
Great Britain South Africa
Greece United States
Although not all of the countries listed
above sent troops into the war, they
all joined the war on the Allied side at
various times.
Central Powers
Austria-Hungary
Bulgaria
Germany
Ottoman Empire
MAIN IDEA
MAIN IDEA
E
Analyzing
Effects
How did the
German U-boat
campaign affect
U.S. public
opinion?
MAIN IDEA
MAIN IDEA
F
Making
Inferences
Why did the
Zimmermann note
alarm the U.S.
government?
F. Answer
It raised the
possibility of the
war spreading
to the Americas.