World World I (July 28, 1914)
Allies at this Point? And Central Powers?
Allies: France, Russia, Great Britain, Italy (Joined on May 23,1915).
Central: Germany, Austro-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria.
Central: Germany, Austro-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria.
Why did the United States join World War I? What made them join?
In August 1914, Germany and Britain were at war and competing against each other by massive warships which was the Naval Race. Germany began to build a strong navy challenging Great Britain historical dominance at sea. In 1900’s they both build warships. It created tensions between Germany and Great Britain. Great Britain establish a close relation to alliance and all became a Triple Entente, also called Allied Powers. So, Britain's old school plan, is to form a blockade on Germany. Britain blockaded the North sea to block off Berlin's trade with anybody, this caused many German deaths from hunger, malnutrition and messed up there economy. Most of Germany’s economy consists of imports and exports but with nothing being able to go out and come in, there economy and food supply were not looking good. Germany responded by building U-Boats (like submarines) to go around the blockade. Germany began surprise attack carelessly British all ships surrounding them with U-Boats (The German Proclamation of 1915), including the British passenger liner Lusitania ship that killed 1,200 passengers. The cause of the United States to go to war is about the Lusitania Loss that 128 Americans were killed too, it made the United States joined World War I in April 6, 1917.
Sussex Pledge (American Policy) 1916 Note to Germany...
Germany was going against their policy of not sinking unarmed passenger ships without warning and although no Americans were harmed the United States got involved. It threatened them because they had written a warning note and Germany were still sinking unarmed ships. It made the fear of America entering the war Germany instituted a pledge not to shoot ships without warning unless provoked that which later Germany did on the Lusitania ship that made the United States get drawn further into the war.
Germany wants Mexico to Join Central Powers? Zimmerman Cable 1917
When the United States join War World, Germany wanted more alliances. In January 1917, a German official named Arthur Zimmermann cabled the German ambassador in Mexico, instructing him to make an offer to the Mexican government. British intelligence intercepted the Zimmermann telegram that made the United States furious as because Germany hoped Mexico would tie down the American forces and prevent them to from being sent to Europe.