President Wilson's Participation In World War I

President Wilson was an idealistic president who wanted peace. His main emphasis was on a just war. The US started out in 1914 as a neutral country. While the sale of arms and supplies went to all countries, the US banks were more likely to loan money to the Allies. The US government accepted the illegal British blockade but protested the use of U-boats and their surprise attacks by the German government. In 1915, the German U-boat sank the Lusitania, which killed 128 Americans. Not wanting to anger the Americans more, Germany expressed regret for the killed Americans and agreed to pay indemnity for the lives lost. “The Lusitania sinking was a turning point for the United States. From this moment on, America’s decision about entering the war depended on the submarine war policy chosen by Germany.” Germany renounced its policy on surprise U-boat attacks in 1915. Once again Wilson wanted peace first. During the winter months of 1917, the German army had very little supplies and was quickly running out. The German Kaiser decided to renounce its previous position on the U-boats and reinstated unconditional submarine warfare. America again protested. To help keep the US out of the war, German Foreign Minister, Arthur Zimmerman asked the Mexican government to attack the US. He thought that if the US was
President Wilson was working to promote democracy. His vision was to establish a long and stable peace with Germany. The French government, however, blamed Germany and the British government blamed the breakdown of democracy as the reason for war. They each were more moved by the idea of reparations and protection. The French Prime Minister did not even read the document until October of 1918. The citizens were more enthusiastic about Wilson's Fourteen Points. "Wilson's idealism revived hope that a better world might emerge from the bloody