First World War After Declaring Neutrality in 1914

The Great War was an incredible landmark in the history of mankind. The war brought about the destruction of imperial dynasties, the collapse and disintegration of empires, and virtually destroyed the European balance of power. For the United States, the Great War was equally as important as it emphasized the economic and military power that the United States would become. However, one question that Americans still face was the reasoning for declaring neutrality in 1914, then entering the war in 1917. Neutrality was declared in 1914 because Woodrow Wilson did not want to enter an area of conflict that was not concerned with American internal affairs. The Americans later entered the war due to the ongoing propaganda towards the Allies and various events that continued to change the American public opinion towards Germany.

In 1914, it was easy for the United States to support neutrality. Americans felt distanced and somewhat detached from the conflict because the war was several thousand miles away. America did not see itself

Prior to 1915, German submarines had a policy of warning and allowing time to evacuate ships carrying passengers before they sank them. However, in 1915 the Lusitania was sunk without a warning, killing over 120 Americans. One year later, the Sussex was sunk by German U-boats and American citizens were outraged at these direct violations of their neutral rights at sea. At this point, a few Americans, including presidential hopeful Teddy Roosevelt, demanded that America declare war on Germany. In 1916 President Wilson took a stronger stance toward foreign affairs by increasing the size of the military and issuing a warning to the German government:

First World War, http://www.firstworldwar.com/

Brown, Miland, Woodrow Wilson: A Brief Biography, http://www.libraryreference.org/wilson.html

Dean, Paul, Woodrow Wilson’s Administration, http://www.worldwar1.com/biocwil.htm

One of the things that has served to convince us that the Prussian autocracy was not and could never be our friend is that from the very outset of the present war it has filled our unsuspecting communities and even our offices of government with spies and set criminal intrigues everywhere afoot against our national unity of counsel, our peace within and without our industries and our commerce. …But [the German government has] played [its] part in serving to convince us at last that that Government entertains no real friendship for us and means to act against our peace and security at its convenience. That it means to stir up enemies against us at our very doors the intercepted Zimmermann note to the German Minister at Mexico City is eloquent evidence.

Some topics in this essay:
Woodrow Wilson, Wilson Congress, Neutrality Wilson, Mexico City, Americans American, Germany Austria-Hungary, Britain Allies, Europe Britain, Britain Germany, Declaring Neutrality, woodrow wilson, world war, entering war, declaration neutrality, german government, american supplies, declaring neutrality, public opinion, american government, submarine warfare, row publishers york, war harper row, norton company york, harper row publishers, world war harper,