There were TWO major events that occurred that are considered to be the "final straw" for the US in joining World War I. What are those two events? List them and briefly explain their importance in bringing the US out of isolationism.
The two major events that are considered the "final straw" for the US in joining World War I are:
1. Zimmerman Telegram: In January 1917, during the ongoing World War I, Arthur Zimmermann, the German Foreign Secretary, sent a coded telegram to the German ambassador in Mexico. The telegram suggested that if Mexico joined the war on the side of Germany, Germany would help Mexico regain territories lost to the US (Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona). This intercepted message was decoded and made public by the British, which outraged the American public. The Zimmerman Telegram was significant because it exposed Germany's intent to provoke Mexico against the US, causing widespread anger and increased anti-German sentiments in the United States.
2. Unrestricted submarine warfare: Germany, during the war, implemented a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare, targeting both military and civilian ships in the Atlantic, including neutral nations' vessels. German submarines, known as U-boats, sank several American merchant ships, resulting in the loss of American lives and cargo. The sinking of the British ocean liner Lusitania in May 1915, resulting in the death of 128 Americans, had already strained US-German relations. However, when Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare in February 1917, it intensified public outrage and generated a call for retaliation and intervention against Germany, leading to a shift in American public opinion against isolationism.
Both of these events greatly impacted the US by highlighting Germany's hostile actions and intentions, making it increasingly difficult for the US to remain isolated from the war. They played a significant role in shifting public sentiment toward intervention and ultimately led to the US abandoning its policy of neutrality and joining World War I on the side of the Allies.