ANC - America's Involvement in World War I Lesson

America's Involvement in World War I

When war broke out in Europe in 1914, the U.S. remained neutral. President Wilson and a large majority of the American public wanted to stay out of this conflict that did not directly involve the U.S. As the war dragged on, however, American opinion began to change.

German submarines, known as U-boats, sunk merchant and passenger ships in addition to military vessels. Some of these ships had Americans on board who perished as the torpedoed vessels sunk to the bottom of the North Atlantic (including about 100 Americans aboard the Lusitania in 1915). War was averted for a time when Germany agreed to the Sussex Pledge where they promised to stop sinking non-military vessels without warning in 1916. But later Germany would break the pledge and once again begin sinking ships.

Additionally, trade and traditional alliances were a factor in public opinion shifting toward assisting the Allies. America's traditional allies, Britain and France, were two of the major Allied powers. A large portion of American trade was with these two nations. Americans stood to benefit from selling war materials to these nations and stood to suffer economically if they fell to the Central Powers. Finally, the Zimmerman Note (Telegram) inflamed Americans as Germany was attempting to convince Mexico to attack the United States.

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Neutrality and Favoring the Allies

American public opinion was strongly divided, with most Americans until early 1917 strongly of the opinion that the United States should stay out of the war. Opinion changed gradually, partly in response to German atrocities in Belgium and the RMS Lusitania, partly as German-Americans lost influence, and partly in response to Wilson's position that America had to play a role to make the world safe for democracy.

By 1916, American neutrality was transitioning towards a collective sense of self-interest and nationalism, especially as casualties in Europe mounted and Wilson's efforts to broker peace were frustrated.

In the general public, there was virtually no support for entering the war on the side of Germany. The great majority of German-Americans, as well as Scandinavian-Americans, wanted the United States to remain neutral. The Irish Catholic community, based in the large cities and often in control of the Democratic Party apparatus, was strongly hostile to helping Britain in any way, especially after the Easter uprising of 1916 in Ireland. Most of the Protestant church leaders in the United States, regardless of their theology, favored pacifistic solutions whereby the United States would broker a peace. Most of the leaders of the women's movement, typified by Jane Addams, likewise sought pacifistic solutions. The most prominent opponent of war was industrialist Henry Ford, who personally financed and led a peace ship to Europe to try to negotiate among the belligerents; it went nowhere.

However, Britain had significant support among intellectuals, Yankees, and families with close ties to Britain. The most prominent leader was Samuel Insull of Chicago, a leading industrialist who had emigrated from England. Insull funded many propaganda efforts, and financed young Americans who wished to fight by joining the Canadian military.

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare and the Zimmermann Telegram

In January 1917, Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare. The German Foreign minister, in the Zimmermann Telegram, told Mexico that U.S. entry was likely once unrestricted submarine warfare began, and invited Mexico to join the war as Germany's ally against the United States. In return, the Germans would send Mexico money and help it recover the territories of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona that Mexico lost during the Mexican-American War 70 years earlier.

British intelligence intercepted the telegram and passed the information on to Washington. Wilson released the Zimmerman note to the public and Americans saw it as a Casus belli—a cause for war. After submarines sank seven U.S. merchant ships, Wilson went to Congress calling for a declaration of war on Germany.

Declaring War

Outraged public opinion now overwhelmingly supported Wilson when he asked Congress for a declaration of war on April 2, 1917. The United States had a moral responsibility to enter the war, he proclaimed, to make the world safe for democracy. The future of the world was being determined on the battlefield and American national interest demanded a voice. Wilson's definition of the situation won wide acclaim, and, indeed, has shaped America's role in world and military affairs ever since.

Wilson saw that if Germany would win, the consequences would be bad for the United States. Germany would dominate the continent and perhaps gain control of the seas as well. Latin America could well have fallen under Berlin's control. The dream of spreading democracy, liberalism, and independence would have been shattered.

On the other hand, if the Allies had won without help, there was a danger they would carve up the world without regard to American commercial interests. They were already planning to use government subsidies, tariff walls, and controlled markets to counter the competition posed by American businessmen. The solution was a third route, a "peace without victory," Wilson said. He meant a peace shaped, if not totally dictated, by the United States.

In the discussion for this module you will be giving your opinion on what was the biggest factor in the U.S. becoming involved in World War I and supporting that opinion with historical facts and analysis.

 

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