WW1

Question 1

What didn’t America not want to get involved?

Answer 1

• Wanted to remain separate from Europe
• Acquired greater wealth and power through isolationism
• “Seeing to its own domestic wellbeing”

Question 2

How did Submarine warfare forced America to get involved in the war?

Answer 2

• Germany launched attacks on US ships - eg the Lusitania - killing 117 Americans
• USA launched the Sussex pledge in May 1916, but in Jan 1917 Germany declared unrestricted submarine warfare

Question 3

What did the Zimmerman telegram state? How high was the level of threat?

Answer 3

ZIMMERMAN TELEGRAM

• Stated that Germany would help Mexico recover the land they had lost to America
• Although, the level of threat here is questionable

Question 4

What was ‘Black Toms’?

Why was this significant?

Answer 4

BLACK TOMS
On July 30th 1916 the Black Toms munitions factory blew up, which may have just been a coincidence but was perceived as sabotage and America felt threatened

Question 5

PROGRESSIVE REASONS FOR INVOLVEMENT

Who did Wilson favour and why?

Answer 5

Wilson favoured England - and their cultures and ideals, so leaned more towards their side
Germany also looked more aggressive as they had bombed Belgium

Question 6

PROGRESSIVE REASONS

How did issues with communication lead encourage Germany to get involved?

Answer 6

COMMUNICATIONS

England had ripped up German communications cables, so US had no contact with them - led to misunderstandings

Question 7

PROGRESSIVE REASONS

Why did Wilson’s ideals mean that America became undocked in the war?

Answer 7

WILSON
Wanted a more progressive approach - was trying to be a world policeman and keep peace - didn’t want to lose credibility as a peace maker

Roosevelt also saw it as a moral obligation

Question 8

What were the economic reasons for getting involved in WW1?

Answer 8

• Getting involved to protect their own self interests

- Needed to defend their markets

Question 9

WILSONS 14 POINTS at the end of WW1

• What did they aim to do?
• How far did he achieve these points?
• Why did they fail?

Answer 9

WILSONS 14 POINTS

• Aimed to maintain orderly relations between nations, redraw certain borders, impose self determination, and set up the League of Nations
• He did achieve most of them and successfully negotiated with the French
• 37 senators condemned the League of Nations
• Also, in September, Wilson collapsed due to health problems so his campaign was over