What Are The Reasons For Ww1 American Neutrality
WWI American Neutrality Outline
Main Question- When World War 1 broke out, the United States declared its policy of neutrality. Was the United States ever neutral in the conflict, and if so, when and why did it change to a policy favoring the Allied Powers?
Thesis- Although the United States declared its neutrality in August 1914, they continued to trade with both Britain and Germany up until January 16, 1917, due to the Germans sending the Zimmerman Telegram which proposed an alliance between themselves and Mexico. This alliance would directly threaten the United States. They declared war on Germany April 2, 1917, and joined the Allied powers shortly thereafter.
Reasons for Neutrality
Topic Sentence- President Wilson saw the …show more content…
war as an example of “European immortality and decadence”, and declared American neutrality. Also, our close ethnic ties to the nations involved had citizens pushing the US to be neutral.
Wilson’s commitment to moral diplomacy was tested when war erupted in Europe.
He saw the war as a prime example of “European immortality and decadence”.
Declared neutrality in August of 1914.
Close ethnic ties to all of the countries involved also kept us out of the war.
British Naval Blockades
Topic Sentence- Britain enacted several blockades of German ports to stop them from receiving supplies sent from the United States. They redirected many American vessels back to British ports if supplies intended for Germany were discovered. President Wilson complained to Britain, and their solution was to overwhelm the US companies with more orders of war materials.
Britain stopped American supplies headed for German Ports from entering by setting up blockades.
New floating explosives known as “Mines” were used to deter German vessels attempting to access their ports.
Britain sent the US ships back to British ports and repossessed the German war supplies.
Wilson argued with Britain over the issue, so the British ordered more supplies to keep the Americans preoccupied.
Germany’s Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
Topic Sentence- Germany was unable to overcome Britain’s large naval superiority, so they devised a new type of watercraft known as a Unterseeboot, or “U-boat”. These submarines relied on stealth to approach their enemies, searched the merchant ships they uncovered, and sunk the ship after evacuating the crew. The merchant ships employed wireless telegraphs to quickly signal the nearby Royal Navy to come to their rescue. U-boats were slow, and were quickly destroyed. Germany enacted Unrestricted Submarine Warfare which allowed them to sink any ship without prior warning.
Germany developed new types of watercraft to elude Britain’s powerful blockades.
These “U-boats” would silently approach merchant ships and sink them after evacuating their crew.
Catching on, the merchant ships began to use wireless telegraphs to signal the Royal Navy.
Germany, angered by this, began to employ Unrestricted Submarine Warfare.
This was frowned upon by many of the countries involved, as innocent civilians were being killed, as noted with the Lusitania.
Germany eventually ceased this submarine warfare.
The Zimmerman Telegram
Topic Sentence- While Britain continued to relentlessly blockade German ports, the Germans sent spies to the United States where they destroyed factories manufacturing weapons for the Allies. They then moved back to Unrestricted Submarine Warfare, which destroyed many ships caught in the war zone. The Germans sent the Zimmerman Telegram to Mexico, which contained plans for a secret alliance between the two countries.This telegram was intercepted by Britain and given to the US, which angered many Americans. Wilson asked congress for a declaration of war against Germany on April 2, 1917.
German spies infiltrated the US and destroyed Allied owned manufacturing plants.
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare was brought back with new vigor against unsuspecting merchant ships caught in the war zone.
Germany sends the Zimmerman Telegram to Mexico, which included plans for an alliance between the two nations. The Mexicans would reconquer the American southwest alongside German
aid.
This was picked up by the British and delivered to the United States.
President Wilson formally asks congress for a declaration of war against Germany on April 2, 1917.
The United States joins the Allied Powers shortly after declaring war.
Reasons for alliance with Allied Powers
Topic Sentence- The United States had strong ties economically with Britain and France. Germany had already angered America with the Zimmerman Telegram, the sinking of the Lusitania, and their repeated use of Unrestricted Submarine Warfare. These reasons, coupled with the many ethnicities of the American people, fit us in with the Allies.
Strong ties with Britain and France.
Ethnic reasons.
Germany already ruined their chances at being friends with the US by sending the Zimmerman Telegram to Mexico.
Main Question- When World War 1 broke out, the United States declared its policy of neutrality. Was the United States ever neutral in the conflict, and if so, when and why did it change to a policy favoring the Allied Powers?
Thesis- Although the United States declared its neutrality in August 1914, they continued to trade with both Britain and Germany up until January 16, 1917, due to the Germans sending the Zimmerman Telegram which proposed an alliance between themselves and Mexico. This alliance would directly threaten the United States. They declared war on Germany April 2, 1917, and joined the Allied powers shortly thereafter.
Reasons for Neutrality
Topic Sentence- President Wilson saw the …show more content…
war as an example of “European immortality and decadence”, and declared American neutrality. Also, our close ethnic ties to the nations involved had citizens pushing the US to be neutral.
Wilson’s commitment to moral diplomacy was tested when war erupted in Europe.
He saw the war as a prime example of “European immortality and decadence”.
Declared neutrality in August of 1914.
Close ethnic ties to all of the countries involved also kept us out of the war.
British Naval Blockades
Topic Sentence- Britain enacted several blockades of German ports to stop them from receiving supplies sent from the United States. They redirected many American vessels back to British ports if supplies intended for Germany were discovered. President Wilson complained to Britain, and their solution was to overwhelm the US companies with more orders of war materials.
Britain stopped American supplies headed for German Ports from entering by setting up blockades.
New floating explosives known as “Mines” were used to deter German vessels attempting to access their ports.
Britain sent the US ships back to British ports and repossessed the German war supplies.
Wilson argued with Britain over the issue, so the British ordered more supplies to keep the Americans preoccupied.
Germany’s Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
Topic Sentence- Germany was unable to overcome Britain’s large naval superiority, so they devised a new type of watercraft known as a Unterseeboot, or “U-boat”. These submarines relied on stealth to approach their enemies, searched the merchant ships they uncovered, and sunk the ship after evacuating the crew. The merchant ships employed wireless telegraphs to quickly signal the nearby Royal Navy to come to their rescue. U-boats were slow, and were quickly destroyed. Germany enacted Unrestricted Submarine Warfare which allowed them to sink any ship without prior warning.
Germany developed new types of watercraft to elude Britain’s powerful blockades.
These “U-boats” would silently approach merchant ships and sink them after evacuating their crew.
Catching on, the merchant ships began to use wireless telegraphs to signal the Royal Navy.
Germany, angered by this, began to employ Unrestricted Submarine Warfare.
This was frowned upon by many of the countries involved, as innocent civilians were being killed, as noted with the Lusitania.
Germany eventually ceased this submarine warfare.
The Zimmerman Telegram
Topic Sentence- While Britain continued to relentlessly blockade German ports, the Germans sent spies to the United States where they destroyed factories manufacturing weapons for the Allies. They then moved back to Unrestricted Submarine Warfare, which destroyed many ships caught in the war zone. The Germans sent the Zimmerman Telegram to Mexico, which contained plans for a secret alliance between the two countries.This telegram was intercepted by Britain and given to the US, which angered many Americans. Wilson asked congress for a declaration of war against Germany on April 2, 1917.
German spies infiltrated the US and destroyed Allied owned manufacturing plants.
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare was brought back with new vigor against unsuspecting merchant ships caught in the war zone.
Germany sends the Zimmerman Telegram to Mexico, which included plans for an alliance between the two nations. The Mexicans would reconquer the American southwest alongside German
aid.
This was picked up by the British and delivered to the United States.
President Wilson formally asks congress for a declaration of war against Germany on April 2, 1917.
The United States joins the Allied Powers shortly after declaring war.
Reasons for alliance with Allied Powers
Topic Sentence- The United States had strong ties economically with Britain and France. Germany had already angered America with the Zimmerman Telegram, the sinking of the Lusitania, and their repeated use of Unrestricted Submarine Warfare. These reasons, coupled with the many ethnicities of the American people, fit us in with the Allies.
Strong ties with Britain and France.
Ethnic reasons.
Germany already ruined their chances at being friends with the US by sending the Zimmerman Telegram to Mexico.