WWI AND THE U.S.

ENTRY OF THE U.S.

•PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON TRIED TO KEEP THE UNITED STATES OUT OF THE WAR, BUT IT BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT.

THE SINKING OF THE LUSITANIA• IN 1915, A GERMAN

SUBMARINE SANK THE BRITISH PASSENGER LINER LUSITANIA, WHICH WAS CARRYING WEAPONS, AS WELL AS PASSENGERS, FROM THE UNITED STATES TO ENGLAND.

THE LUSITANIA

•OF THE 1200 PEOPLE KILLED IN THE ATTACK, 128 WERE AMERICANS, MOSTLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN. THE SINKING TURNED AMERICAN PUBLIC OPINION AGAINST GERMANY.

ITS ABOUT THE MONEY

•ECONOMIC INTERESTS ALSO PUSHED AMERICA TOWARD WAR. AMERICAN BANKS HAD MADE LARGE LOANS TO THE ALLIES, AND IF THE ALLIES LOST THE WAR, THESE LOANS MIGHT NEVER BE REPAID.

THE UNITED STATES ENTERS THE WAR• WHEN IT LOOKED LIKE THE ALLIES

MIGHT BE DEFEATED, PRESIDENT WILSON TOOK THE UNITED STATES TO WAR.

• THE U.S. DECLARED WAR IN 1917 "TO MAKE THE WORLD SAFE FOR DEMOCRACY" IN THE WORDS OF PRESIDENT WILSON.

THE END OF THE WAR• WITH A MILLION FRESH AMERICAN

TROOPS ARRIVING IN FRANCE, THE ALLIES SOON DEFEATED THE CENTRAL POWERS.

• WHEN THE FIGHTING STOPPED AT 11:00 O'CLOCK ON THE 11TH DAY OF THE 11TH MONTH, SOLDIERS FROM BOTH SIDES CAME OUT OF THEIR TRENCHES AND CHEERED.

• NOVEMBER 11TH IS NOW OBSERVED AS VETERAN'S DAY IN THE U.S.