Hello everyone, this is my school's yearly research paper and is the first draft.
The topic I was assigned was to research and explain:
U.S. Neutrality and WWI - Why the U.S. Went to War
It must be in MLA format, and our guide to use was owl.english.purdue.edu if we needed help.
I have met all paper specifications I am aware of, but I would enjoy feedback and criticism on the content of the paper.
Note: Under normal circumstances, paper is double spaces and there are no extra spaces between titles, which I have included to make the paper as it is here less cluttered.
If you would like any more information, please submit a comment. Thanks - Tim Wagner
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Timothy Wagner
Noll/Henderson
History/English
16 February 2010
Why Did the United States Enter the First World War?
There are a wide variety of theories as to why the United States entered the so-called Great War, and many have intriguing background information, making them believable. Take an example, such as sea warfare. One cause that may have triggered America's entrance into World War I was that they were being attacked, despite their attempted neutrality in the ordeal. Another possibility could have been America's Anti-German sentiment, or even their historical ties to Britain. Nonetheless, whether it was any of the subsequent reasons or not, the U.S. was enticed to join and fight out the war.
1. Pre-War
Long before the mere idea of large-scale wars spanning throughout the world, George Washington said this: "...'Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent Alliances, with any portion of the foreign World..." With this, Washington was declaring that America might have wanted to run on a policy of isolationism, because it would stop them from ending up fighting in a war such as the First World War. Americans managed to keep this mindset for around one hundred years. However, nearing the end of this century of isolationism, a feeling of Jingoism came out in some Americans.
At this point in time, Americans had expanded "from sea to shining sea" and even a little more. For many, this vast amount of land was enough. On the other hand, Jingoists wanted more. They may have even been willing to fight for more land, and the current war that was taking place in Europe was an ideal place for them to start.
2. U.S. attacked despite neutrality
Before the United States entered the war, they traded with the Allies. Although they tried to trade with the Triple Alliance, Britain blockades prevented it. Whilst this may have only partially influenced German attacks, American ships were attacked and many people died. Two lead examples of American disasters are the Lusitania's destruction and the Maine's destruction in the Spanish Havana Harbor.
The Maine's destruction left the United States with 266 people dead and the Spanish-American war to fight. The war lasted only four months and left an anti-war sentiment in some people. The Lusitania was however closer to the time of the World War. On April 7, 1915, this ship was torpedoed, leaving 1200 dead, 128 being Americans. By this time, many, if not all, Americans had a strong anti-war sentiment.
Unreasonably, Germany, after a period of peace at sea, continued to attack. Throughout this time period, tens of thousands of people lost their lives due to Germany's unrestricted warfare. Additionally, the Zimmerman Telegram was sent, which promised Mexico some of their land back which they lost to the United States. However, it was intercepted, decrypted, and published in newspapers as propaganda. The telegram and the excessive sea warfare definitely played a part in America going to war, however, there are additional possibilities, if not definite reasons, that lead the U.S. into war.
3. Because of possible economic collapse
According to the Glider Lehrman Institute of American History, "By 1917, American loans to the Allies had soared to $2.25 billion; loans to Germany stood at a paltry [measly] $27 million." If not anything else, this would be a huge reason to go to war. Two and a quarter billion dollars is a large sum of money, and if the United States were to lose this money, it would have more than likely been catastrophic and it would've brought about economic collapse in America. It was vital that in some way, the United States ensured the return of their borrowed money.
At the time, many people were aware of the massive amounts of money funded in the war. In opposition to Woodrow Wilson's War Message, Senator George W. Norris talked about the money that has been spent. He stated:
"...We have loaned many hundreds of millions of dollars to the Allies in this controversy. While such action was legal and countenanced [allowed] by international law, there is no doubt in my mind but the enormous amount of money loaned to the Allies in this country has been instrumental in bringing about a public sentiment [general feeling] in favor of our country taking a course that would make every bond worth a hundred cents on the dollar and making the payment of every debt certain and sure" (Edsitement).
In this quote, Senator Norris tells Americans about the large sums of money we have loaned to the Allies. He then makes the point of telling us that this money was probably used to sway the opinion of the public into a course that would get their money back - war.
4. Because of multiple ties to Britain
America is tied to Great Britain in many ways, whether a cultural, a historical, or an economic connection. Because we initially migrated from Britain and because we have continuously kept relations with them, we have a far-reaching, long-lasting connection to them. Additionally, we have also kept a strong trade link between us and them. Finally, we also shared cultural relations, as we kept some of Britain's traditions and ideals. Because of these three main connections, it would be hard to devise a reason as to why America should have not helped them out in the war, even through fighting. Thus, America may have also entered the war because of cultural, historical, and economic relations.
5. Due to anti-German sentiment
Many Americans were against the Germans, and they had good reason to rebel against them. The general public had an anti-German sentiment which may have been caused by the aforementioned ties to Britain. In addition, some German policies may have horrified Americas, and the government's propaganda campaign also rallied Americans against the Germans.
One well known German policy was unrestricted submarine warfare, which undoubtedly horrified Americans because of all the lives lost, of Americans and of all ethnicities. Connectively, the Zimmerman Telegram was a well-known message, which was used as propaganda.
"A large number of the great newspapers and news agencies of the country have been controlled and enlisted in the greatest propaganda that the world has ever known to manufacture sentiment in favor of the war." Senator Norris also said this in opposition to President Woodrow Wilson's War Message. In this quote he is describing how propaganda in America has grown to an extreme level just to support the war. Clearly, if propaganda had grown this big, it may as well have played a large role in putting America in the midst of The Great War.
6. Militarism
There is one more highly plausible reason pertaining to why the United States may have entered the war - Militarism. By this time, America's capabilities within war were great, so perhaps it would have benefited America to enter the war and help overcome Germany. The following quote from Emma Goodman which can be found in "Preparedness: The Road to Universal Slaughter," describes militarism as it may have been thought of throughout the world at the time.
"That which has driven the masses of Europe into the trenches and to the battlefields is not their inner longing for war, it must be traced to the cutthroat competition for military equipment, for more efficient armies, for larger warships, for more powerful cannon. You cannot build up a standing army and then throw it back into a box like tin soldiers."
If this was the true feeling of militarism in America, then militarism assuredly played a role in America entering the war, because America may have subconsciously wanted to prove their strength by helping in this conflict.
7. Conclusion
All in all, there is not one, certain reason that completely explains why America entered World War I. However, there are many reasons, that when combined, form a very reasonable explanation as to why Americans entered the war. This explanation includes events varying from being attacked by outside countries while they were making an attempt at neutrality, to America's relations with Britain, and even inclusive of the possibility that America may have only been trying to prove something to themselves.
Conclusively, America entered the Great War because of a variety of reasons. They were partially influenced by the Germans to enter the war, although they were also influenced by the possibility of economic collapsed. America tried to follow Washington's advice when he said to stay out of war, but America would only be able to stay isolated for so long, and they were influenced enough to break away and enter world-wide relationships - both good and bad.
Notes
1. Throughout this Essay, "World War I" may be referred to as "The Great War," because it was commonly called this due to the massive properties of the war.
2. Jingoism is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as "extreme patriotism in the form of aggressive foreign policy."
3. The Triple Alliance consisted of Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary.
4. The Maine's destruction also left America with a battle cry, which may have also been used in the World War as a rallying phrase. This battle cry was "Remember the Maine, To Hell with Spain!"
5. The entire Zimmerman Telegram can be found at: archives.gov/education/lessons/zimmerman
[MLA Formatted Citations Go Here... Need to type up :)]
Take an example, such as sea warfare. How about like this;
One of these theories, for example, had to do with sea warfare.
One cause that may have triggered America's entrance into World War I was that they were being attacked,..." Who was attacking them?
2. U.S. attacked despite neutrality
Before the United States entered the war, they traded with the Allies. Although they tried to trade with the Triple Alliance, British blockades prevented it.
The telegram and the excessive sea warfare definitely played a part in America going to war, however, there are additional possibilities, if not definite reasons, that leadled the U.S. into war.
5. Due to anti-German sentiment
Connectively, the Zimmerman Telegram was a well-known message, which was used as propaganda.I don't think connectively is a word.
6. Militarism
There is one more highly plausible reason pertaining to why the United States may have entered the war - Militarism. By this time, America's capabilities concerning war were great, so perhaps it...
... entering the war, because America may have subconsciously ...This sounds a little funny.
7. Conclusion
They were partially influenced by the Germans to enter the war, although they were also influenced by the possibility of economic collapse .
