Why did the USA join the war in 1917?

Answer 1

Because they wanted to wait until the war was almost over before getting involved. The same as the 2nd world war.

Answer 2

The sinking of the Lusitania happened in May 1915, the USA did not join the war until 1917. Whilst Woodrow Wilson might have liked to make the sinking a causus belli, he was held back by his Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan who was a pacifist. Wilson also undertook a speaking tour into the central and western USA and found that the majority of Americans living there weren't nearly as concerned about the sinking of the ship as were people in the East. It took further U-Boat attacks (including one on another liner carrying American passengers). U-boats were also developed which could travel to the eastern seaboard of the USA where they began to sink American cargo ships, The final straw was, however, the infamous Zimmermann which suggested that Mexico might like to join the war on the German side and recover Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. It didn't help that we Brits had decoded this telegram (although the Germans later made it public) and the Germans transmitted it (in code) via the State Dept. to the Mexican President!

Answer 3

The US was neutral in what they viewed as a European war and did not want to get involved. However Germany began engaging in unrestricted submarine warfare. Early on the Germans were careful to establish that their targets were indeed British ships. After a while they decided to just sink anyone approaching England. The US did not approve of this and in fact warned Germany this would not be tolerated. When they sank the Lusitania the US demanded a halt to unrestricted attacks. The Germans complied, but later they went back to unrestricted warfare and the US felt it was necessary to intervene. This was also aided by the fact that the Germans were trying to make a deal with Mexico to attack the US if they entered the war.

Answer 4

America's long-standing policy of isolationism left the United States reluctant to involve itself with what was popularly perceived, among the American public, as a European war.

Early in 1917, Germany resumed its policy of unrestricted submarine warfare. This, combined with public indignation over the Zimmermann telegram, led to a final break of relations with the Central Powers. After further U-boat attacks on American merchant ships, President Woodrow Wilson requested that Congress declare war on Germany, which it did on April 6, 1917 (see: Woodrow Wilson declares war on Germany on Wikisource). The House approved the war resolution 373-50, the Senate 82-6. Wilson hoped a separate peace could be achieved with Austria-Hungary; however, when it kept its loyalty to Germany, the US declared war on Austria-Hungary in December 1917.

Answer 5

As I understand it, the United States chose to stay out of it until Germany began attacking American ships that were importing goods to Germany's enemies, like England, thinking this would weaken them. Instead, this angered the United States and got them to come back Germany's enemies up. And so on.

Answer 6

like they always do waiting for all the hard fighting to be done and come in right at the end.then going around telling everybody how they won the war all by then selfs.when was the last war america won by it self against some who could fight back.get your history books out and go back a long long way.

Answer 7

The sinking of the liner Lusitania, with the loss of many American lives, by German U-boats, was the motivation used to enter the first world war.

Answer 8

Zimmermann telegram

Answer 9

because of the Germans sinking the Lusitania from a U Boat submarine.

Answer 10

they missed the bus.