U.S. Enters WWI

By somethingbrilliant

  • U-boats

    German U-boats start sinking merchant ships in 1915.

  • Great Britain Arms Merchant Ships

    Shortly after U-boats began sinking merchant ships, Great Britain violates international law by allowing their merchant ships to have guns.

  • Germany Begins Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

    In response to the Brits' violation of international law, Germany allows its U-boats to sink British merchant ships without warning.

  • Lusitania is Sunk

    German U-boats sink British passenger liner Lusitania, angering many Americans with their "barbaric" act.

  • Germany Pledges to Stop Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

    Germany pledges to stop sinking passenger ships (like the Lusitania) without any reason.

  • Battle of Jutland

    The German High Seas Fleet attempts to enter the North Sea and confront the British.

  • Sussex is Torpedoed

    U-boats torpedo the French passenger ship Sussex.

  • Germany Invades Russia

    In early 1917, Germany was able to break deep into Russia due to the many casualties suffered by the Russians.

  • Germany Ends Sussex Pledge

    Germany resumed submarine warfare the next day.

  • U.S. Breaks Off Relations with Germany

    The United States broke off its diplomatic relations with Germany in February 1917.

  • Zimmermann Note

    Americans intercept the Zimmermann note, which revealed that Germany promised to give Mexicans American land if Mexico declared war on the United States.

  • U.S. Arms Merchant Ships

    Like Great Britain, the United States began outfitting their merchant ships with guns.

  • Wilson Begins Second Term

    Woodrow Wilson begins his second term, which he won by the slogan "He kept us out of war."

  • Czar Nicholas II Dethroned

    The czar was forced to give up the throne to a republican government.

  • Germany Sinks U.S. Ships

    The City of Memphis, the Illinois, and the Vigilancia were sunk by Germany. Wilson was pretty mad.

  • U.S. Cabinet Votes for War

    Wilson's Cabinet voted that the United States join the war.

  • Wilson Addresses Congress

    On April 2, Wilson approached Congress with a plea to join the war, saying that, "The world must be made safe for democracy."

  • Wilson Signs Declaration of War

    Congress voted to join the war, and Wilson signed the declaration on April 6, 1917.