American Experience (1988)

S29E6 The Great War: Part 1

In the first part of this three-part series, President Woodrow Wilson promised to maintain America's neutrality when World War I broke out in Europe in August 1914. He upheld this commitment until 1917, when Germany renewed its "unrestricted submarine warfare"—a tactic it had previously ceased in 1915—and began targeting U.S. vessels. Additionally, an intercepted telegram revealed Germany's attempts to persuade Mexico and Japan to join them in declaring war on the United States.