AP US History in 1 Minute Daily: U.S. Neutrality & Entry into World War 1 (Day 225/309)

Hey APUSHers, let’s chat about U.S. Neutrality and Entry into World War I as part of my series- APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!

Bringing it Home, New York Public Library

At the outbreak of World War I in 1914, President Wilson declared neutrality in keeping with the long tradition of isolationism in the U.S. foreign policy.

Freedom of the Seas, Wikimedia Commons

One of the main factors that eroded American support for neutrality was freedom of the seas. U.S. ships bound for Europe were seized and a British ocean liner, the Lusitania, carrying American passengers was sunk which fueled public outrage toward Germany.

The Zimmerman Telegram, Library of Congress

In January 1917, the Zimmerman Telegram was intercepted and revealed German attempts to form a military alliance with Mexico against the U.S. which further heightened tensions between the U.S. and Germany.

United States Enters War, Library of Congress

Finally, Germany began unrestricted submarine warfare and subsequently sunk 6 American ships in the spring of 1917. In April, President Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany, citing the need to make the world "safe for democracy."

While the U.S. had initially declared neutrality at the outbreak of World War I, issues of respect for freedom of the seas, the Zimmerman Telegram, and Germany’s initiation of unrestricted submarine warfare led the U.S. to enter the conflict.

Join me tomorrow as I explain the U.S. Homefront during World War I in the next APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!