Who is president during world war 1

When Europe plunged into war in , Wilson, who like many Americans believed in neutrality, saw America's role as that of peace broker. The sinking of the passenger liner Lusitania by a German U-boat helped to shatter that hope. Wilson demanded an apology from Germany and stayed his neutral course as long as possible. Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare, however, was an intolerable affront to America's dignity and honor. At the start of , British intelligence intercepted the Zimmerman telegram, a secret German communication to Mexico promising United States territory to Mexico in return for supporting the German cause.

On April 2, , Wilson finally asked Congress for a formal declaration of war. The task Wilson faced was how to mobilize an unprepared America. The government could ask for volunteers and institute a draft to build up the army.

But convincing Americans to support the war and feel the will to fight was more difficult. The war effort required propaganda. Wilson launched the Committee for Public Information CPI , employing a legion of artists and the formative Hollywood film industry to churn out pamphlets, movies and posters depicting Germans as the savage Hun. In return for this assistance, Germany asked for Mexican support in the war. Initially, the British had not shared the news of the Zimmermann Telegram with U.

The British finally forwarded the intercepted telegram to President Wilson on February The U. Despite the shocking news of the Zimmermann Telegram, Wilson still hesitated asking for a declaration of war. He waited until March 20 before convening a Cabinet meeting to broach the matter—almost a month after he had first seen the telegram. However, by , the continued submarine attacks on U. Furthermore, international law stipulated that the placing of U.

Finally, the Germans, by their actions, had demonstrated that they had no interest in seeking a peaceful end to the conflict. Menu Menu. Home Milestones U. It does not express what America ought to feel. We are not trying to keep out of trouble; we are trying to preserve the foundations on which peace may be rebuilt. The war continued until November University of Virginia, January 1, Robert H.