Essay Why Did The Us Join World War 1

World War I was a great loss both physically and emotionally. It was a conflict between the Allies and the Central Powers from 1914 to 1918. More than 15 million people were killed in battled, making it one of the most deadly conflicts in history. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria- Hungary was seen as the trigger of the war. The war was described as a world war, a total war, and a modern war. A world war because it involved the whole world. A total war because people used maximum resources for the purpose of the war. A modern war because the people used technological and industrial mobilization.

World War 1 was a war that lasted from 1914 to 1918 and was a war that involved and was molded around alliances. This war in Europe would eventually turn into a global war that would involve 32 countries. United States involvement was crucial to the outcome of World War 1 and made a serious impact in our country. Both positive and negative effects were felt by Americans during and even long after the war. Mixed feelings were felt from many Americans for entering the war that would affect society.

The US entered WW1 because of Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare. Germany had a plan, they did not want the US to enter the war. They decided that if they do a warning it will scare the US and they won't enter. History.com, a website with multiple authors wrote an article named “Germany Resumes Unrestricted Submarine Warfare” says that “By 1917, the war was not going well for Germany on the Western Front. Unrestricted submarine warfare was a result of desperation and the belief that the ferocity of such a tactic might just keep America out of the war if the results

Background - Historical Context: Some people believed that wars are worth the cost but is the

World War I started on June 28, 1914 when Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated by a Serbian Patriot. The United States of America stayed neutral at the beginning of World War I because the US was a weak country with a weak military. Austria-Hungary was a part of the Central Powers and Serbia was a part of the Allied Powers.Some people thought that the US should not enter World War I because the US would lose more people in the war than the US would if the US stayed neutral but, others thought that the US should enter the war because the US needed to defend themselves. It was necessary for the US to enter World War I because of Unrestricted Submarine Warfare and The Zimmerman Note.

The Germans wanted the United States to enter the War ever since Russia left and their confidence grew. Germany kept provoking the United States by using submarine warfare. Submarine warfare was an unfair game to play because no other nation had that kind of technology. Wilson

Also, if the United States was to enter the war, national production would switch from civilian products to war materials (Economic). In the years leading up to the war, America was already in a state of recession and they did not want to spend millions of dollars on this conflict. The following quote states how much the war affected the economy of the United States. "The total cost of World War I to the United States (was) approximately $32 billion, or 52 percent of gross national product at the time" (Economic). If you were the president of the United States, would you want to put out $32 billion dollars when your country is in recession as it is? Second, another reason the United States stayed out of the war for so long was because of their policy of neutrality. On August 19, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson addressed the congress and informed them of the U.S. policy of neutrality (First). In doing this, President Wilson was saying that the United States would stay neutral during the war and not intervene. During the president’s address to congress, he states, “Every man who really loves America will act and speak in the true spirit of neutrality” (First). By saying this, the president is saying that the policy of neutrality is the absolute best choice for the United States in this situation, and any citizens that did not believe in this did not truly care for the country or its people.

World War II was an exceptional war for the United States. The United States emerged from the war as a world superpower and protector of all other nations. There were many reasons why the United States entered World War II, however President Franklin Roosevelt was in some way directly connected to every reason. Roosevelt wanted to enter World War II as soon as it started for political and economic needs. However, the American people did not want to enter in another war, such as World War I, that costs so many lives and money. Therefore, Roosevelt schemed a plan to enter the United States into World War II that would change the minds of the American people,

The U.S. had a popular opinion against Germany because Germany’s tactics of warfare were affecting the U.S. In 1915, when the United States was still a neutral country, Germany sunk a British ship, resulting in the death of 128 Americans. After this incident, President Wilson signed a document asking congress to declare war (Doc6). He also informed Germany that if they continued to illegally attack ships than the United States would have had to take action (Doc6). The loss of American lives due to German U-boat attacks outraged the majority of the United States. In 1917 British intelligence intercepted a message, known as the Zimmerman note, that the German Foreign minister was sending to the government of Mexico. The Zimmerman note was an example of how Germany was against the United States, “We intend to begin...unrestricted submarine warfare. We shall endeavor in spite of this to keep the United States of America neutral” (Doc7). The German Foreign minister was saying that in order to prevent the U.S. from aiding Britain and France they were going to go against their agreement with the U.S. and continue to illegally attack ships through submarine warfare. The messages also called for an alliance with Mexico, “We make Mexico a proposal of alliance on the following basis...that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona” (Doc 7). The German Foreign minister explained to Mexico that if war broke out with the

Reasons for United States' Involvement in World War I At first the public opinion of Americans was firmly set on neutrality. The majority of people had little or no concerns of the affairs of the rest of the world - why should America interfere with the conflicts of other nations? Americans supported a policy of isolationism, and Democrat Woodrow Wilson was re-elected in 1916 on the grounds that he had kept them out of the war.

While there many factors led to this decision, the most important, and one that is often overlooked, is America’s refusal to expand and update its military in the early years of the war. While Germany’s policy of unrestricted submarine warfare, and Zimmerman’s offer to Mexico did a lot in pushing public opinion towards war with Germany, it could be argued that a stronger American naval presence would have avoided war altogether. If America had had an up-to-date navy, and the ability to protect its ships in the Atlantic, Germany would have avoided them, and not given America a reason to enter the

When World War 1 started in 1914, United States president Woodrow Wilson promised non participation of his country. The conflict appeared typical of the rottenness of old Europe which favored the neutrality position of majority of American citizens. However, a series of implacable events dragged the United States into the war. This paper will discuss these events that justified the United States entry into World War 1 while exploring the roles which public opinion should play when making such decisions in comparison to expert policy makers’ opinions. In addition, other available options that should have been put into consideration will be explored.

The united states made the decision to enter WWI in 1917 with England, France, and Russia. The United States entered the war because President Woodrow Wilson requested a declaration of war against Germany. The reason of this being is becauseGermany would not suspend unrestricted submarine warfare in the Mediterranean and North Atlantic. Germany also tried to persuade Mexico into joining sides with them.Germany's attempt to sink passenger and merchant ships was the real reason President Wilson wanted the U.S. to go to war. Wilson threatened to cause harm to Germany if they didn't stop sinking ships. And on May 4, 1916, Germany agreed to stop sinking ships. On these terms and conditions it was known as the "Sussex Pledge". Germany ended up violating

First came the Zimmerman note; a telegram from the German foreign minister to the German ambassador in Mexico that was intercepted by British agents. The telegram proposed an alliance between Mexico and Germany. It promised that if the war with the United States broke out, Germany would support Mexico in recovering lost territory and Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Next came the sinking of unarmed American merchant ships with a loss of 36 lives. Finally, events in Russia removed the last significant obstacle to direct US involvement in the war. In March the oppressive Russian monarchy was replaced with a representative government. Now supporters of American entry into the war claim that this was a war of democracies against brutal monarchies. On April 2nd, 1917, President Wilson delivered his war resolution. “Property can be paid for, the lives of peaceful and innocent people cannot be. The present German submarine warfare against commerce is a warfare against mankind. We are glad to fight for the ultimate piece of the world in for the liberation of its people. The world must be made safe for democracy we have no sufficient to serve. We desire no conquest no dominion. We speak no indemnities. It is a fearful thing to lead this great peaceful people into war. But the right is more precious than peace.” With the hope of neutrality finally shattered, U.S. troops will follow the stream of American money and munitions that have been heading

The United States of America (America) entered World War I for many reasons. It would be hard to put it on one sole reason due to the fact that they all tested America’s people. One of the biggest factors though, would have to be the sinking of the Lusitania. One hundred twenty-four Americans were on that ship, and over a thousand dead in total. This riled up the public opinion on Germany. Diplomatic efforts were made with Germany, but the public’s opinion was permanently changed. Germany would later resume unrestricted warfare.