Final answer:
The U.S. got involved in World War I due to the sinking of the Lusitania and the Zimmermann Telegram. Another significant event was the Zimmermann Telegram, which was intercepted and decoded by the British. This telegram revealed a German proposal to Mexico to join Germany in a war against the U.S., promising Mexico the return of lost territory.
Step-by-step explanation:
The United States got involved in World War I due to a combination of factors. One key event that led to U.S. entry into the war was the sinking of the British ocean liner RMS Lusitania by a German submarine in 1915. This event, along with other instances of German aggression towards American ships, outraged the American public and increased support for war.
Another significant event was the Zimmermann Telegram, which was intercepted and decoded by the British. This telegram revealed a German proposal to Mexico to join Germany in a war against the U.S., promising Mexico the return of lost territory. The revelation of this telegram further fueled anti-German sentiment in the U.S. and pushed the country closer to war.
Overall, the sinking of the Lusitania and the Zimmermann Telegram were key events that played a crucial role in the U.S. decision to enter World War I. These events outraged the American public and influenced public opinion, leading to the eventual declaration of war by the U.S. in 1917.
The key event that drew the U.S. into World War I was Germany's resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare. This, along with the Zimmermann Telegram and economic ties with the Allies, compelled the U.S. to join the war, which bolstered Allied forces and highlighted America's rising global influence.
The United States initially adopted a policy of neutrality at the start of World War I. However, events such as Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare, which led to the sinking of the Lusitania and the loss of American lives, and the Zimmermann Telegram, in which Germany proposed a military alliance with Mexico against the U.S., pushed America closer to intervention. These provocations, combined with economic ties to the Allies and the ideological alignment with their cause, eventually led President Woodrow Wilson to request a declaration of war from Congress, which was granted on April 6, 1917.
Key Event Leading to U.S. Entry
The key event that triggered U.S. entry into the war was the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare by Germany in early 1917. This policy threatened American merchant vessels and citizens, and it violated the United States' neutral rights on the high seas.
Impact of American Troops
The arrival of American troops on the Western Front in 1918 provided a significant morale and manpower boost to the Allied forces. The fresh American forces played a pivotal role in several offensives that pushed back German troops and contributed to the eventual armistice. U.S. participation also reinforced the notion of America as an emerging global power both militarily and economically.