-
Period: to
Events leading to American Enterance into WWI
-
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
A member of the Serbian group named the Black Hand assassinates the heir to the Austrian throne. The Black Hand wanted a liberated Serbia. This event to war. Within weeks, Germany, Ottoman Empire and the Austria-Hungarian Empire were at war with England, France and Russia. -
German Admiralty Declaration
German declaration that any ship in British waters will be deemed a part of the British war effort and sunk by U-boats. This began the first wave of unrestricted submarine warfare. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
The British ocean liner left New York harbor heading to Liverpool, England. During its journey, a German U-boat fired and sank the ship killing 1,198 including 128 Americans. Wilson demanded the protection of passenger vessels and payment for American losses. -
Arabic Pledge
Due to the pressure put on Germany following the Sinking of the Lusitania and the Arabic, Germany issued the Arabic pledge. This pledge was a promise made by the German Empire during World War I to limit unrestricted submarine warfare. Germany was to warn all unarmed ships before being sunk. -
Sussex Pledge
The French ship the Sussex was sunk without warning while crossing the English Channel. This attack violated the Arabic Pledge to warn passenger ships before firing. While no Americans were killed, the event prompted Wilson to issue an ultimatum to Germany. If it continued unrestricted submarine warfare, America would break diplomatic relations and enter the war. Germany responded by promising not to sink passenger ships. This promise became known as the Sussex pledge. -
Zimmermann Telegram
The British government intercepted a telegram from Arthur Zimmermann, a German ambassador in Mexico. The telegram proposed an alliance between Germany and Mexico in case America entered the war. Germany promised financial support and the return of Mexican territories Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. This telegram completely changed American views on entering the war. -
American Declaration of War
Following the discovery of the Zimmermann telegram and the dramatic shift in American support for entering the war, Wilson asked for a declaration of war. After four days of debate, congress gave Wilson the declaration he asked for which officially entered America into World War I.
