The Early 1900s: The Superpower Of America

"The fate of history is once again in the hands of America." America during the early 1900s is not yet the superpower of the world, as it is later known. How will America get this title? At the start of WWI, Germany had victory over Europe in its sights. That all changed when Germany made catastrophic mistakes by threating the democracy of the world, sending Mexico a hostile note directed toward the United States, and participating in submarine warfare. Threating the democracy of the world was a big issue that America faced, but also a minor factor in America's entrance into the war. In President Wilson's address to the nation, he said, "War to make the world safe for democracy" (America Path to intervention in World War I). President Wilson is stating the only way to secure the world's democracy was to engage in war. Germany; furthermore, miscalculated the consequences of sending the Zimmerman telegram. The Zimmerman telegram was a note intercepted by Great Britain promising to help Mexico get its …show more content…
In 1915, a Germany U-boat sank a British liner, the Lusitania, killing 122 Americans onboard. In the response, Wilson sent Germany a series of diplomatic notes threating to sever ties with Germany if they continued with this kind of warfare. Wilson said, "America would hold the German government to a standard of 'strict accountability’ for the loss of any American lives and property" (America Path to intervention in World War I). Wilson is asserting America's authority and power, which will later play an important role in the war. In all, during early World War I, Germany is destined for greatness in Europe. However, due to Germany's overbearing faults of threating the world's democracy, sending the Zimmerman Telegram, and practicing illegal submarine warfare, America will have no other choice but to enter the war that would not only effect Europe, but also