Main Causes of American Intervention in World War I
Proffesor RyanIntroduction to us History 2 | Main Causes of American Intervention in World War I | President Woodrow Wilson in 1917 | | Aaron Brooke | 11/20/2009 |
There were many factors that caused America to enter World War I, many of which have been argued by countless historians. However, the deciding factor for American intervention was President Woodrow Wilson’s strength and leadership. |
Millions of American citizens watched in horror and apprehension as the war in Europe tore the continent apart in 1914. The war was between the Triple Entente—Great Britain, Russia, and France—and the Central Powers, which was comprised of Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary. The vast majority of Americans strongly designated themselves a neutral nation. They believed themselves morally superior to war and viewed it to be an unnecessary, primitive solution. Even President Woodrow Wilson immediately announced America’s neutrality, after recently winning the presidential election in 1916 for his second consecutive term, bearing the campaign slogan “He kept us out of war.” However, despite initial disapproval of World War I, many controversial events and certain predictions caused the United States to teeter between the line of isolation and intervention. It was President Wilson’s strong guidance and insightful evaluations of foreign actions and domestic reactions that led to America’s involvement in the Great War on April 6, 1917.
Right from the start, both Germany and Britain quickly began spreading propaganda, attempting to promote their own country’s motives and justify their grounds for being in the war. Propaganda is defined as information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, or nation. Both nations were affecting public opinion, but in the summer of 1915, German doctor Heinrich Albert mistakenly put a halt to Germany’s influence. Albert was a representative of the German
There were many factors that caused America to enter World War I, many of which have been argued by countless historians. However, the deciding factor for American intervention was President Woodrow Wilson’s strength and leadership. |
Millions of American citizens watched in horror and apprehension as the war in Europe tore the continent apart in 1914. The war was between the Triple Entente—Great Britain, Russia, and France—and the Central Powers, which was comprised of Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary. The vast majority of Americans strongly designated themselves a neutral nation. They believed themselves morally superior to war and viewed it to be an unnecessary, primitive solution. Even President Woodrow Wilson immediately announced America’s neutrality, after recently winning the presidential election in 1916 for his second consecutive term, bearing the campaign slogan “He kept us out of war.” However, despite initial disapproval of World War I, many controversial events and certain predictions caused the United States to teeter between the line of isolation and intervention. It was President Wilson’s strong guidance and insightful evaluations of foreign actions and domestic reactions that led to America’s involvement in the Great War on April 6, 1917.
Right from the start, both Germany and Britain quickly began spreading propaganda, attempting to promote their own country’s motives and justify their grounds for being in the war. Propaganda is defined as information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, or nation. Both nations were affecting public opinion, but in the summer of 1915, German doctor Heinrich Albert mistakenly put a halt to Germany’s influence. Albert was a representative of the German