The United States initially planned on remaining neutral during the onset of conflict in Europe. Never before had the United States gone to defend foreign soil for foreign governments on such a large scale. Indirectly, the Germans gave the United States no choice but to get involved. Three years after the war began, Germany was engaged in submarine warfare with the existing Allied Powers and sank several US merchant ships. Germany had also attempted to recruit Canada and Mexico into the Central Powers in hopes of distracting the United States from the fighting in Europe, making it impossible for them to aid the Allied Powers. Using the incident with the merchant ship and Germany’s attempt to entice Mexico and Canada to join the Central Powers, President Wilson could no longer let his country stand idly by. He went before Congress requesting war be declared against Germany in hopes of making the world “safe for democracy.” On April 6th, 1917, the United States declared war against Germany.
Questionable politics
While running for reelection in 1916, Wilson used the campaign slogan “He kept us out of War.”
Within four months of being sworn in for his second term, Wilson went to stand before congress calling for a declaration of war on Germany…..
The sinking of American merchant ships was an indirect result of a direct assault against England. The Germans intent was to take control of England as another preventative measure against the United States from being able to access the mainland and assist the Allies. They would need to transport all their troops and supplies by sea to England before deployment to the warfronts. If the Americans were not able to join the fight, the Germans believed they could achieve ultimate victory. It was a gamble that would prove disastrous for the Germans.The Great War, as it was also known, would develop some of the greatest advancements in warfare. The use of motorized ambulances, barbed wire, chemical weapons, tanks, aircraft, and machine guns marked significant changes to how the world conducted war. Like technological advances, World War I would also allow the globe to realize one of the world’s greatest fighting forces, the United States Marines.