“From before 1914 great part of the North American commerce had been with the allied nations, and when the allies blocked the central powers the commerce of the United States with Germany, became insignificant, while the commerce with Great Britain and France increased dramatically. This increase of the foreign trade, flourishing in the middle of 1915, rescued to the United States of an economic depression that had lasted a year”. (Morison, Commager and Lichtenburg; 2001; p. 616
For better or for worse the participation in a war brings considerable changes for the country. For the North American public of 1914 the outbreak of the war in Europe was a disagreeable surprise. At the outset, the conflict seemed to be far distant, but it did not take to long in appear the effects in the economic and political matters. In 1915 the North American Industry suffered a slight depression that began to prosper with the ammunition order of the allies. (Olson, N.Y.)
On May 7, 1915, a German submarine manages to sink the British ship Lusitania violating the international law where 1198 people died, including 128 Americans. Wilson gains the re-election to the presidency in November 1916 and three months later, German submarines begin to sink American merchant ships. Undoubtedly, these and other acts of aggression on by Germany, forced the U.S. to declare the war in April 6 of 1917 arguing before the congress to safeguard the rights and the liberties of all the free towns. The American residents manifested before the governmental decision and around two million men were offered like volunteers to the military service. Finally 3 million people were recruited. (The World Book Encyclopedia, 1993)
Besides War issues, the economic issues led the United States to be closer to the Allies. The British naval control was so complete on the sea that quickly cut the exports of the United States with Germany from $169 million to only $ 2 million per year. Meanwhile, between 1914 and 1916, the annual sales from the United States to the allies were quadruplicated from $824 million to $3,2 trillions of dollars, which raised the economy of the U.S. from its recession. The price that farmers get for wheat tripled, the production of steel ascended from 40 to 75 million tons per year, and the stock market went up. This led U.S. to emerge in the arms industry that would represent an important economic axis for the rising hegemonic country. (Bagby, 1999)
In sum, the United States' decision to remain neutral during WWI before the start was because it was a distant event, in addition to facing a strong economic situation that was affecting all the country. Nevertheless President Wilson changes his decision to participate in the armed conflict - largely by the economic and political benefits that would gain the United States - by the collapse of the Lusitania ship triggering the hegemonic ascent of the U.S. Finally the decision of Wilson took the U.S. to institute the arm industry which would be carrying a huge economic support.
Bibliography
- Morison Samuel, Commager Henry; “Brief history of the United States”; págs. 661- 638; First reprint, 2001; FCE, Mexico
- The World Book Encyclopedia; “World War I and the peace: the United States in to war” volume 20; pages 256-257; U.S.A. 1993 Olson, k. W.
- Review of the History of the United States. California: Informative service Culture and of the United States. Bagby, W. M. (1999).
- America´s International Relations since World War I. New York: Oxford University Press.