Reasons for the American entry into WW1

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Joshua Jacobs

Period 7

U.S. History Essay

When World War I began America was not involved but eventually we got ourselves into it. America tried for neutrality up to when German submarines stopped respecting the neutrality, when the British ship Lusitania was sunk with over 100 American citizens aboard, the United States declared war. The Lusitania was a large factor on the triggering of World War I and it made a public opinion that President Wilson couldn’t ignore. It is clear that in 1915, when the Lusitania was sunk, that we stopped supporting Germany, and gave further money to the allies. Nationalism is what fueled the war, because we fought for the loss of American lives.

        President Wilson’s message to the U.S. Senate states that he believes that the European war’s effects on America depend on its people. He wishes that the people will accept his idea of neutrality. According to Wilson “Every man who loves America will act and speak in the true spirit of neutrality”, so inferring that he is a man who loves America, he wants neutrality. The spirit of the nation is determined by the public word and the newspapers. Thus he must convince them that staying neutral is the right thing for America. At the time the Idea of neutrality was easy, until Germany made a few misconceptions to change the public opinion. This message told America to not hate any side. This led to a better idea and thought about staying neutral, at the time.

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        The chart “United States Exports to Europe 1910-1915” shows the exports we sent to Europe for war, before 1915, stayed about the same. Germany, UK, France, and Austria/Hungary were all sent millions of dollars’ worth of exports for the war. After 1914 the United States only sent France and UK exports. Most likely the reason we stopped supporting was both the public and the sinking of the Lusitania. We would have been too proud to send money to the shedders of American blood. We sent over 1,300 million dollars in exports after 1914. That alone shows the amount of ...

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