The USA entered WWI in 1917 for several reasons: German unrestricted submarine warfare sank American merchant ships and violated free trade; the Zimmerman Telegram proposed a German alliance with Mexico against the US; and President Wilson hoped to make the world safe for democracy. When the US joined the Allies, it provided troops and supplies that helped tip the balance in their favor. The war had significant impacts on the US such as women entering the workforce, the passage of women's suffrage and prohibition, and the Great Migration of African Americans to northern cities. The Treaty of Versailles after WWI was harsh on Germany and contributed to the start of WWII.