The Preparedness Movement Of America And World War I

America and World War I Prior to his re-election to the presidency in 1916, Woodrow Wilson promised to keep America out of World War I. However, following the election, his determination was turned down by Germany’s unrestricted submarine warfare, sinking seven American merchant ships on 21st of March. 12 days later, Woodrow Wilson stated, “It is a war against all nations. American ships have been sunk, American lives taken, in ways that it has stirred us very deeply to learn of, but the ships and people of other neutral and friendly nations have been sunk and overwhelmed in the waters in the same way… Neutrality is no longer feasible or desirable where the peace of the world is involved and the freedom of its people…” (“U.S. Declaration of
The movement began to increase United States military capabilities and to convince the United States citizenry of the need for American involvement in the conflict and ongoing military preparedness. ("Preparedness Movement Law & Legal Definition") When the movement first emerged, there were many advocates as well, including Elihu Root, an American lawyer and statesman, and Henry Stimson, a politician and spokesman on foreign policy. Along with them were many of the nations bankers, lawyers, politicians, and academics from the Northeast United States. They believe that economic strength and military might were more decisive than the idealistic crusades that focused on notions such as democracy and national self-determination. They consistently emphasized the weak state of national defenses. America had only a 100,000 strong army that was augmented by only 112,000 National Guard. They proposed the creation of a national service program which would require all men who turned 18 each year to spend six months in military training after which they would be assigned to reserve units. The regular army would primarily serve as a training agency. ("The "Preparedness Movement””) Even augmented by National Guard men, the leaders of the Preparedness Movement showed that America’s army was outnumbered 20 to one by the German army, which was drawn from a smaller