Although the war was going on from 1914 - 1918 the United States was supplying the Allies with goods throughout the war. The United States finally got involved in the fighting in 1917.

​When did the US get involved?

There are five main reasons historians believe the United States got involved in WWI.

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"The Five Reasons"

​After Germany invaded Belgium, rumors of their atrocities against Belgium citizens started to spread, some true and some exaggerated. These rumors spread far and wide in the US making people want to get involved

Reason #1 - German Atrocities

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​The United States had a financial interest in the war because they were loaning money to the Allies and if they Allies did not win, they were unlikely to get their money returned.

Reason #2 - American Loans

A secret telegram was intercepted by the British from Germany to Mexico. Germany was proposing an alliance with Mexico if the United States got involved in the war. Germany promised American land to Mexico if Germany won the war. The US found out about this telegram, angering Americans

Reason #3 - Zimmerman Telegraph

​Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare, knowing they might provoke the US into the war. Several US cargo ships were sunk without warning

Reason #4 - Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

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Reason #5 - Sinking of Lusitania

There were 1,959 people on board (159 were American) and only 761 people survived.

​Although the Lusitania had supplies for the Allies on board, it was mostly a luxury cruise ship with innocent people on board

Lusitania

​The sinking of the Lusitania was the last straw for the United States. After this attack they finally entered the war in April of 1917

Last Straw for US