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On June 28, 1914, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne was shot and killed by assassins in order to take their land. This led to Germany attacking Belgium and France August 4, 1914.
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The United States wanted to decided neutral on August 4,1914 because they had immigrants from countries both of the Central Powers and the Allies. They disagreed over which countries had started the war and which countries should be supported by America, however, America traded with both England, of the Allies, and Germany, of the Central Powers. So staying neutral was difficult. Wilson was worried if the war would hurt U.S business. So they tried to stop loaning and trading with both sides.
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German U-boats, or submarines, sunk ships going between England and America. On May 7, 1915, a German U-boat sank the Lusitania, a British passenger ship sailing off the coast of Ireland. More than 100 Americans were killed. The Germans said they had put warnings in American newspapers telling passengers to stay off ships heading to the war zone. Germany also said the Lusitania had been carrying war supplies for England.
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In January of 1917, Germany didn't think the United States was prepared to join the war. Arthur Zimmermann, a German leader, sent a telegram to Mexico asking the country to start a border war with the United States. In return, Germany would get back Mexican land that had become Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. The English got a copy of the telegram, broke the secret code and sent the information to Wilson.The telegram was put in the U.S. newspapers, showing that Germany was America's enemy.
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Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war on April 2, 1917. Wilson said the United States must go to war ,so war was officially declared against Germany on April 6, 1917. World War I involved all Americans. The government set manufacturing, farming, transportation and selecting men for the military. Patriotic posters, pamphlets, films and public speakers encouraged Americans to support the war. Americans were told “food will win the war.” So they had to save food for the troops.
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11 November 1918 was the time that ended fighting on land, sea and air in World War I between the Allies and their opponent, Germany. Paris time on 11 November 1918 and marked a victory for the Allies and a defeat for Germany, although it was not a surrender.
