On January eighth, 1918, Woodrow Wilson gave his famous speech “Fourteen Points” to Congress. Although Russia had already dropped out of the war, the Allies were becoming the clear winner. The United States was in a state of isolationism since the Great Depression, finally breaking it to enter World War I. Nationalism, imperialism, militarism, and alliances were the largest factors contributing to the start of the Great War. Nationalism gave countries the need to prove their country was the best. Combined with militarism, Countries had a reason to fight, and large militaries to do so. Imperialism caused the Great War to grow even larger . Powerful nations used their colonies for supplies and soldiers, so the war impacted the imperialized nations
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By 1917, Russia was effectively out of World War II. With Russia in the war, Germany was forced to split their army to fight a two front war. Because of Russia’s Revolution, they dropped out of World War II, allowing Germany to fight a single front war. America joined to prevent the scales from tipping in Germany’s favor. The Zimmerman Note was from Germany to Mexico. In this letter, Germany promised Mexico support to reclaim territory from the United States. Great Britain intercepted the telegram before it reached its destination, and showed the United States in hopes of their introduction into the war. Germany and Great Britain both used unrestricted submarine warfare (attacking all foreign ships) and naval blockades. America was offended at Germany not only because of their unethical sinking on neutral passenger ships, but also because their naval strategies interfered with trade. The Lusitania was sunk on May 7, 2015 by German submarines. Although it was a British passenger ship, 128 of the onboard Americans died. America was not completely faultless, though. Military supplies were illegally stocked on the Lusitania while it was docked in New York. Germany also placed an add in a New York newspaper to warn that the ship was in danger from submarine attacks, but it was largely …show more content…
Wilson tackles the main four causes for the Great War: imperialism, nationalism, alliances, and militarism. His fifth point proposes an end to all colonial claims, which would solve the problem of imperialism. With no colonies, there is no imperialism. The fourteenth point, to construct an organization of different nations for the purpose of stopping nationalist fuel of wars by creating friendly relations between different countries. This point was ultimately made into the League of Nations, which tried to keep peace in Europe. With his first point, Wilson suggests a ban on all secret alliances. By banning secret alliances, Wilson prevents countries from unknowingly getting into wars they can not fight. Militarism is addressed in the fourth point, which states that militaries must be limited to the smallest amount that still ensures safety within the country. If militaries are severely limited, large scale wars can not be
By 1917, Russia was effectively out of World War II. With Russia in the war, Germany was forced to split their army to fight a two front war. Because of Russia’s Revolution, they dropped out of World War II, allowing Germany to fight a single front war. America joined to prevent the scales from tipping in Germany’s favor. The Zimmerman Note was from Germany to Mexico. In this letter, Germany promised Mexico support to reclaim territory from the United States. Great Britain intercepted the telegram before it reached its destination, and showed the United States in hopes of their introduction into the war. Germany and Great Britain both used unrestricted submarine warfare (attacking all foreign ships) and naval blockades. America was offended at Germany not only because of their unethical sinking on neutral passenger ships, but also because their naval strategies interfered with trade. The Lusitania was sunk on May 7, 2015 by German submarines. Although it was a British passenger ship, 128 of the onboard Americans died. America was not completely faultless, though. Military supplies were illegally stocked on the Lusitania while it was docked in New York. Germany also placed an add in a New York newspaper to warn that the ship was in danger from submarine attacks, but it was largely …show more content…
Wilson tackles the main four causes for the Great War: imperialism, nationalism, alliances, and militarism. His fifth point proposes an end to all colonial claims, which would solve the problem of imperialism. With no colonies, there is no imperialism. The fourteenth point, to construct an organization of different nations for the purpose of stopping nationalist fuel of wars by creating friendly relations between different countries. This point was ultimately made into the League of Nations, which tried to keep peace in Europe. With his first point, Wilson suggests a ban on all secret alliances. By banning secret alliances, Wilson prevents countries from unknowingly getting into wars they can not fight. Militarism is addressed in the fourth point, which states that militaries must be limited to the smallest amount that still ensures safety within the country. If militaries are severely limited, large scale wars can not be