WW1

The malevolent utilization of unrestricted submarine warfare by the German navy was unequivocally a breach of the rules of war. In early 1915, Germany controversially declared the waters surrounding Britain a war zone and threatened to sink all merchant ships approaching Britain even those from neutral countries. It was irrational to believe neutral countries would halt trade with Britain as that would result in huge economic losses. Several merchant ships including the British ship Lusitania were mercilessly and unjustly shot down by German U-Boat submarines. The Lusitania was principally a passenger ship and 1,201 innocent people onboard including 128 Americans were murdered by the submarine attack. Furious at the sinking of neutral merchant ships, the United States pressured German politicians into ceasing their submarine attacks in September 1915 through the Sussex Pledge. Although the German government knew returning to its policy of unrestricted submarine warfare would anger the United States into joining the war, it chose to unleash its submarines anyways. The United States had declared warnings that it would enter the war if anymore merchant ships were sunk and it had to stick to its gun in order to avoid being seen as weak by other countries. Furthermore, Britain had its own blockade and cut off seaborne supply routes to Germany as well, but Britain still allowed limited imports to Germany. Additionally, the British fleet blockading Germany never opened fire on a neutral merchant ship and instead, seized them without violence. As Wilson stated in his address to congress, “property can be paid for; the lives of peaceful and innocent people cannot be. The present German submarine warfare against commerce is a warfare against mankind.” The United States needed to enter the war in order to stop the German U-Boats from committing more atrocities against innocent people.

With powerful intentions of world peace and a country to defend, America’s