In 1914, war was declared in Europe; concurrently, America started a policy of neutrality and isolation. When the news of the trench warfare and the horrors associated with it reached the shores of the US, it confirmed to the government that they had started with the right approach. …show more content…
Though he was originally assigned work to members of his cabinet and others, he preserves full control over what Americans did in terms of foreign policy. As a student of modern history, Wilson was very informed that some of the causes of the war were rarely black and white which is why the modern European scenario was a complicated one. For this reason, he preserves the Americas noninterference, he didn't believe that any of the America’s interests were intimidated by European war – if the trade could continue abundantly. On August 4th, 1914, Wilson formally announced that America would take part in World War One neutrality extended to policy of “Fairness” – whereby American bankers could lead money to both sides in war. Overseas trade was a little more complex. Trade with both sides was allowed and merchant ships crossed the Atlantic to trade. However, a British naval blockade of German coastline made it unfeasible for America to trade with Germany- through no fault of her own. The British policy of blockading Germany was the main reason on why Germany eventually introduced unlimited submarine warfare. Germany would have declared the Britain which would had forced her into taking this kind of …show more content…
First, Britain turned their back on the Memorandum signed by its own Foreign Secretary, Sir Edward Grey. Then, Britain started growing maritime activities concerning the ships to stop trading with Germany and other members of the central Powers. Finally, the treatment of those who were taken into custody after they failed Easter Rising in Dublin in 1916 had greatly irritated the influential Irish-American community on American’s east coast. To many, Britain had lost the virtuous high ground and to some it seemed as if Britain didn't want peace at all. On November 7th, 1916, Wilson had won the presidential election. To many Americans, he was still seen as a man of peace whereas his rival, Charles Evans Hughes, was as a warmonger. Wilson spent the next few months trying to set up a way that America could lead peace by discussion that would end the war. They had lost so many lives by going to