Events Leading to U.S. Entry in World War I Quiz

Answer: North Sea

The blockade had a detrimental effect on the U.S. economy. Wilson protested the British seizure of American ships as a violation of a neutral nation's right to freedom of the seas.

Answer: J.P. Morgan

J.P. Morgan, who was no stranger to lending money to the government, and other bankers helped pay for the loan. These loans maintained U.S. prosperity, and at the same time they sustained the Allies' war effort.

Answer: Secretary of State William J. Bryan

In May, 1915, a German submarine sank the British passenger liner, the Lusitania. Most of the passengers drowned, including 128 Americans. President Wilson sent Germany a strongly worded diplomatic message warning that Germany would be held to "strict accountability" if it continued to sink unarmed ships. Secretary of State William J. Bryan resigned his position in protest, saying the message sounded too "war-like".

Answer: 44

Three of the 44 passengers and crew were Americans. President Wilson sent a note to the German government in protest. The German government pledged that no other unarmed passenger ships would be sunk without warning (that is, without time being allowed for passengers to get into lifeboats). This "pledge" wouldn't last for long, however.

Answer: Britain

The British commanded the war news that was cabled daily to U.S. newspapers and magazines. Fully recognizing the importance of influencing U.S. public opinion, the British government made sure the American press was well supplied with stories of German soldiers committing atrocities in Belgium and the German-occupied part of northern France.

Answer: False

Although several American passengers were injured, none was killed in the sinking. This did not stop President Wilson from threatening to cut off U.S. diplomatic relations with Germany. The Central European country, which didn't want to risk U.S. entry into the war on the British side, backed down.

The enacted the Sussex pledge, which promised not to sink merchant or passenger ships without due warning. For the remainder of 1916, Germany was true to its word.

Answer: Charles Evans Hughes

Ironically enough, Wilson ran with the campaign slogan "He kept us out of war". Although it was a very close election, Wilson prevailed over the inexperienced Hughes. Wilson made repeated efforts to fulfill his party's campaign promise to keep the country out of the war, including an unsuccessful attempt to negotiate a peace treaty with the countries at arms in Europe. Wilson made a speech to Senate declaring U.S. commitment to the idea of "peace without victory".

Answer: True

The shift of military strategy held its own risk and reward. The Germans recognized the risk of the United States entering the war but believed that, by cutting off supplies to the Allies, Germany could win the war before America could react. Germany communicated its decision to the U.S. Government, and a few days later Wilson broke off diplomatic relations with the country.

Answer: Mexico

Arthur Zimmermann, Foreign Secretary of the German Empire, made a secret offer to Mexico through a telegram that was intercepted by British Intelligence. Zimmerman proposed that Mexico ally itself with Germany in return for Germany's pledge to help Mexico recover lost territories: Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.

The Zimmermann Note deeply upset the nationalist mood of the American people and convinced Wilson that Germany fully expected a war with the United States.

Answer: democracy

A mere four days later, on April 6, an overwhelming majority in Congress voted for a declaration of war, although a few pacifists, including Robert La Follette and Jeanette Rankin, defiantly voted no. The country immediately started mobilization for the war.

All these events had significant impact on the United States' entry into World War I, and the rest they say is history!