US reactions to WWI before our involvement in war and causes for US involvement in WWI
When the war broke out America had decided to be neutral by not getting involved or taking sides. Being non-interventionists this was expected. Wilson's idea while being president was to keep us out of war. He had said "Peace had to be a peace of reconciliation, a peace without victory, for a victor's peace would leave a sting, a resentment, a bitter memory upon which terms of peace would rest, not permanently, but only as upon quicksand." (Wilson) Just a few weeks later Wilson had declared war against Germany to "make the world safe for democracy" (Wilson 1917). After another few weeks 73,000 men out of 10 million pooled had volunteered for the war.
Causes for U.S. involvement:
There were multiple causes for the US entering WW1. The main cause of the US entering would be the sinking of the Lusitania. The Lusitania was a British ocean liner and 128 out of 159 American passenger on the ship died. This, however, angered many Americans died in a war they weren't even involved in. 1,198 out of 1,959 passengers on the Lusitania died. German U-boats, also known as unrestricted submarine warfare, are what sunk the Lusitania. They were unauthorized German submarines going around the US East coast. The Zimmerman Note was the final cause that made the US enter the war. The note was a telegram message from Germany to Mexico which was intercepted by the British and sent to the US. The note stated:
"On the first of February, 1917, submarine warfare will be reinstated unrestrictively.
The US has to stay neutral.
Germany proposes an alliance with Mexico on the following basis: If the US goes to war, Mexico must fight on the home front in an financially supported alliance with Germany; If Mexico agrees to fight, they will reconquer New Mexico, Texas and Arizona."
Personal thoughts:
Well, I'm not big on war, I'm more of a make peace not war kind of person. So, If I had to be in Wilson's position, well, I honestly, don't know what i would do. With all of the attacks on the US i might be forced into the war and all but I wouldn't want to do it. With the death toll being around 10 million deaths, that is way too many! I mean, they are fighting to keep the US safe but, I'm just not big on war, at all.
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Comments
Good job Taylor! We all want peace!