Wilson -Democrat Roosevelt – Progressive Taft - Republican

LIBERAL CONSERVATIVE

•Declared American neutrality

•Offered to mediate conflict

•Sent Colonel Edward House on peace mission

•Refused to build up U.S. Army

Great Britain & Germany violate Great Britain & Germany violate American Rights at SeaAmerican Rights at Sea

British BLOCKADEBLOCKADEGerman Submarine Submarine WarfareWarfare

Diplomatic protests by Diplomatic protests by Wilson & Secretary of Wilson & Secretary of State William Jennings State William Jennings Bryan are ignoredBryan are ignored

““Sussex Pledge”Sussex Pledge”

““Too proud to fight !”Too proud to fight !”( In Europe…but fighting in Mexico is ok)( In Europe…but fighting in Mexico is ok)

ZapataZapata Pancho VillaPancho Villa CarranzaCarranza

General PershingGeneral PershingWilson’s intervention Wilson’s intervention in Mexico’s revolution, in Mexico’s revolution, failed.failed.

“Zimmerman Telegram”

"We are counting on the probability of "We are counting on the probability of war with the United States….things war with the United States….things cannot be worse than they are now. cannot be worse than they are now. The war must be brought to an end by The war must be brought to an end by whatever means as soon as possible.”whatever means as soon as possible.”

Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg

Supreme Commander, Imperial German General Staff, 1917

Zimmerman Von Hindenburg

“…a war to make the world safe, for Democracy”

““We desire no conquest, no dominion. We seek no indemnities for ourselves, no We desire no conquest, no dominion. We seek no indemnities for ourselves, no material compensation for the sacrifices we shall freely make. We are but one of the material compensation for the sacrifices we shall freely make. We are but one of the champions of the rights of mankind. We shall be satisfied when those rights have champions of the rights of mankind. We shall be satisfied when those rights have been made as secure as the faith and the freedom of nations can make them.”been made as secure as the faith and the freedom of nations can make them.”

President Woodrow Wilson, 1917

Asking the Congress of the United States for a Declaration of War against the Central Powers