5 Reasons for the US Entry into World War I

In the results of World War I and the subsequent peace treaties, the United States played an important role, but struggling to maintain neutrality in most of the conflicts considered a European problem. By 1917, Woodrow Wilson 's policy and public opinion changed, it helped the United States to enter World War I, because of the following reasons.

One factor that has a major influence on American public opinion is the story of German atrocities that angered Americans with a neutral Belgian invasion and shock. All the media spread the story about the killing of non - armed civilians and the destruction of small towns. Some stories are British propaganda, but they left strong anti - German sentiment among Americans.

American businessmen are very interested in the victory of the Allies and many people like JP Morgan have helped fund the war in the UK and France. If allies are defeated by the central government, they may not be able to repay the debt to American banks. As a result, many businessmen are supporting the so-called "preparatory movement" that the United States exercised to intervene in war of the Allies.

In May 1915, the German U Boat sank Lusitania, a British passenger ship on the Irish coast. More than 1,000 passengers including 128 Americans died. The ship could carry civilians and military equipment, but Americans were irritated as people on board were not warned before they sank. In addition to the tense diplomatic relations between the United States and Germany, the sinking of Lusitania further enhanced the anti-German sentiment of the United States.

Following the blockade of the UK, Germany turned to an unlimited submarine war to prevent cargo from entering the UK. After sinking in Lusitania, Germany promised to cancel an unlimited submarine fight, but in less than a year they used a torpedo to submerge another ferry - a ferry crossing the English Channel. Likewise, Germans promised not to attack passenger ships without warning (Sussex's promise). But this promise is also very short.

In 1917, German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmerman sent a telegram to Mexico, suggesting that Mexico should declare war with the United States if the United States declares war with Germany. In return, Mexico will resume territory lost in Mexico - the American War (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona) -. Unfortunately, for Germany, the telegram was intercepted by British and was rushed to the Americans. Mexico did not actually intend to declare war with the United States, but the letter's announcement further mobilized American citizens to the central government.

US President Woodrow Wilson used a famous American, saying, "The United States which entered the First World War in 1917 is correct". The world must be democratic and safe. This is just a century ago and represents the beginning of a doctrine called "Wilsonism" - roughly speaking, the United States is very important in promoting overseas liberal democratic norms I am convinced. Between the recent US presidential campaign campaign and the first hundred days of his tenure, Donald Trump repeatedly refused the traditional Wilson idea promoting American values ​​and benefits abroad. His recent Saudi Arabia visit showed that he was "not here" to tell other countries about their behavior in that country.

It is difficult to point out a single factor that determines the power to enter the World War I. For historians it is certainly appropriate to analyze the cause of the occurrence of war by exploring the internal situation of each country. However, the importance of internal problems leading to war varies from country to country. More fairly, war is the result of a combination of internal and external forces. To a certain extent, the outbreak of World War I was a tragedy of miscalculation. Austria proclaimed a war with Serbia and wanted it to be only a short partial war. Germany misunderstood the dangers of the two wars. The German war plan (Schlieren plan) inevitably includes France, Russia, Belgium and the United Kingdom. Fast weapons gathering resulted in possession of advanced weapons. And that made the army a spirit of war.