When the Great War began, Woodrow Wilson declared complete neutrality for the United States. Due to America's mixed population, Wilson did not want to join since citizens would most likely take the sides of their home countries and engage in war on each other, causing even more racism and hostility towards immigrants. Some might wonder how America got involved then. There are many reasons why, but the most evident were the sinking of the Lusitania and the Zimmerman telegram.
Before the war, European nations began to form military and diplomatic alliances to ensure the aid of another nation if attacked. However, the Triple Alliance, which included Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy and the Triple Entente, which included Great Britain, France and Russia only increase the chance of large-scale conflicts. It all began on July 28, 1914 when the heir to the Austria-Hungary throne, …show more content…
out of the war since they had no connections so far. However, Wilson still wanted to trade with all nations since the U.S. economy had gone through a recession only a year before and the disturbance of international trade would only worsen it. However, Britain soon created an economic blockade of Germany that violated America's neutrality. While Wilson's administration accepted without protest, the process of isolating America from Germany began. Germany reacted by setting up their own blockade of British ports and threatened to sink enemy ships going to the British Isles. As Germany said, on May 7, 1915, the Lusitania was torpedoed by a German U-boat killing 1,198 passengers, 128 being United States citizens. While some Americans cried out insisting we join the war, others reminded each other that Lusitania was carrying millions of rounds of ammunition making it a clear target. Although Wilson still demanded neutrality, he made it clear that any more destruction of ships by Germany would be identified as
Before the war, European nations began to form military and diplomatic alliances to ensure the aid of another nation if attacked. However, the Triple Alliance, which included Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy and the Triple Entente, which included Great Britain, France and Russia only increase the chance of large-scale conflicts. It all began on July 28, 1914 when the heir to the Austria-Hungary throne, …show more content…
out of the war since they had no connections so far. However, Wilson still wanted to trade with all nations since the U.S. economy had gone through a recession only a year before and the disturbance of international trade would only worsen it. However, Britain soon created an economic blockade of Germany that violated America's neutrality. While Wilson's administration accepted without protest, the process of isolating America from Germany began. Germany reacted by setting up their own blockade of British ports and threatened to sink enemy ships going to the British Isles. As Germany said, on May 7, 1915, the Lusitania was torpedoed by a German U-boat killing 1,198 passengers, 128 being United States citizens. While some Americans cried out insisting we join the war, others reminded each other that Lusitania was carrying millions of rounds of ammunition making it a clear target. Although Wilson still demanded neutrality, he made it clear that any more destruction of ships by Germany would be identified as