The United States wanted to remain neutral. They felt no need to join a war that was 3000 miles away and that had no threat to American lives and property. Many Americans were divided on the war. Millions of people were naturalized U.S. citizens, and they still had ties to their countries. Of course, the ones that came from Germany, sympathized with Germany. Still others, remembered the British oppression of their countries and saw the war as way for their countries to gain independence. Many Americans sympathized with Britain because Germany was destroying villages, hospitals, and libraries. They also felt closer to the allies because of the economic ties. The U.S. was manufacturing war supplies, submarines, copper wire, tubing and armored cars for the allies.
The fighting continued and the United States still did not want to join the allies in fighting this war. Britain started to block our ships carrying food supplies, from making it through to German ports. This caused many Germans to starve to death. Of course the U.S. was angry with Britain because of the blockades, but when Germany retaliated and started sinking any ship found in British waters this outraged the U.S. even more.
The sinking of the Lusitania was a horrible tragedy that happened on May 7, 1915. The British liner lost 1,198 passengers and 128 of them were Americans. The Americans were infuriated at Germany due to losing lives, but still refused to join the war. A few months later in August 1915, a nuclear submarine sank another British liner which was called the Arabic, another two Americans drowned. Germany had made a promise saying they wouldn't sink any more passenger ships but in March of 1916, Germany attacked the French passenger the Sussex. It sank and 80 passengers along with some Americans died or got injured.
The second main event that happened was The Zimmerman note. It was a message that got put forward for an alliance to happen between Mexico and Germany. The message stated that if a riot occurred between the U.S, Germany would help Mexico to regain any missing land in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Later, four defenseless sinking ships happened to lose 36 lives. The U.S. had enough and decided to declare war. The U.S. joined the war on April 6, 1917.
