America was a reluctant to participate in World War 1, infact in august 1914 when the war broke out in Europe; President Woodrow Wilson issued a declaration of neutrality. Preferring to remain isolated from the war, America tried to broker peace between the allies and the axis, the war was in Europe; America did not need to get involved.

On May 7th 1915, German U-boats, patrolling in the Atlantic Ocean, fired torpedos at the British passenger ship Lucitania sinking her in 20 minutes. Onboard were 128 Americans.

Woodrow Wilson, demanded that Germany stop attacking passenger ships, and declared that America was too proud to fight.

Wilson also tried to mediate a compromise settlement but failed.

Wilson also repeatedly warned that America would not tolerate unrestricted submarine warfare, as it was in violation to American ideas of human rights. Wilson was under great pressure from former president Theodore Roosevelt, who denounced German "piracy" and Wilson's cowardice.

In January 1917, Germany announced it would destroy all ships heading to Britain. Although Wilson broke off diplomatic ties with Germany, he still hoped to avert war by arming merchant vessels as a deterrent. Nevertheless, Germany began sinking American ships immediately.

In February 1917, British intelligence gave the United States government a decoded telegram from Germany's foreign minister, Arthur Zimmerman that had been intercepted en route to his ambassador to Mexico.

The Zimmerman Telegram authorized the ambassador to offer Mexico the portions of the Southwest it had lost to the United States in the 1840s if it joined the Central Powers. However, because Wilson had run for re-election in 1916 on a very popular promise to keep the United States out of the European war, he had to handle the telegram very carefully. Wilson did not publicize it at first, only releasing the message to the press in March after weeks of German attacks on American ships had turned public sentiment toward joining the Allies.

On 2 April 1917, Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war and four days later all but six senators and fifty representatives voted for a war resolution. The Selective Service Act that was passed the following month, along with an extraordinary number of volunteers, built up the army from less than 250,000 to four million over the course of the conflict. General John Pershing was appointed head of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) and led the first troops to France

On April 6th 1917, America declared war on Germany

DURING THE COURSE OF WORLD WAR 1 116708 AMERICAN SOLDIERS LOST THEIR LIFES AND 204002 WERE WOUNDED

World War 1 on Hubpages

http://hubpages.com/hub/World_War_1_Gallipoli

The Gallipoli campaign marked the first time that Australians went into combat as Australians. The term ‘ANZAC' originated from that time and ANZAC Day, arguably Australia's most significant national holiday, occurs annually on 25th April, the date o

http://hubpages.com/hub/thejockspot_A_Christmas_miracle

Day light came on Christmas morning, the soldiers from both trenches lay aside their arms got out of the trenches and walked into no man's land, about half way between the trenches, they shook hands and exchanged cigarettes and chocolate whilst wishi

http://hubpages.com/hub/world_war_1_The_Schlieffen_plan

In 1905, 9 years before the start of World War 1,Alfred Graf Von Schlieffen devised a plan for the invasion of France through Belgium, Holland and Luxemburg. This became known as the "Schlieffen plan"

http://hubpages.com/hub/Build_up_to_World_War_1

Although World war 1 didn't start until 1914 political movements that led to the war started in May 1883 when Germany,Austria-Hungary and Italy signed the Triple alliance.

World war 1:A day in the trenches

http://hubpages.com/hub/World_war_1_A_Day_in_the_Trenches

Apart from dodging bullets and avoiding death from enemy shells, there was a daily routine in the trenches of World War 1.

http://hubpages.com/hub/World_War_1_Trench_Warfare

Death was everywhere in the trenches, at any time of day or night it could be your corpse laying in the mud, whether through the shell bombardment, poison gases, disease or a random bullet from a sniper.