Was President Wilsons choice correct?
In respects to President Wilsons options during World War I, it is evident that he had no other choice but to go to war. It was provoked by the interruption of trade relationships, the attacking of U.S. citizens out to sea, and secret plots geared towards America, as well as the protection of investments made by Americans.
During the war, the Allies and the Central Powers were forced to interrupt each others trade relationships in order to protect themselves. Unfortunately, this would also affect the U nited States when the British Blockaded Germany, in an attempt to cut off the Central Powers supplies.Goods were seized destined for the United States. The British labeled the goods as contraband, and it was seized by the Royal Navy. This was a direct violation of international maritime law. When the U.S. told the British that their actions were in violation of the law, the British stated it was seizing goods intended for Germany, not neutral ports.
Eventually, Germany's actions violated their neutrality agreement. They declared that all British waters were war zones, and that any shipping in British waters would be sunk by U-boats (undersea boats or submarines.) This meant that German captains would have to attack ships without checking them, this obviously led to the sinking of neutral vessels. This policy interfered with American imports and exports, and eventually led to the sinking of the British passenger liner, the Lusitania by a U-boat. The result of this was the killing of more than a thousand passengers, as well as 128 Americans. President Wilson threatened to cut off diplomatic relations with Germany on two occasions the first being after the Lusitania, and the second being after the Sussex was torpedoed and two Americans were injured. The Germans agreed to stop attacking without warning in the Sussex pledge. In 1917 they resumed their U-boat attacks, forcing the Americans to arm their merchant ships in order to protect themselves from the U-boats. This upset the Americans, and was a key reason that Wilson decided to interfere in the war.
Another key event was the plotting against Americans in the Zimmerman note. The Zimmerman note was diplomatic telegram written by the Germans Alfred Zimmerman. In it, he offered Mexico, in return for their help if the U.S. did enter the war, the land which they had lost in the Mexican -American war, if the central powers were victorious.
Along with the Zimmerman note and the U-boat affair, President Wilson had the United states economy in mind when deciding to enter the war. Many Americans had investments, primarily on the French side. If the French had lost, numerous Americans would have lost their assets, when it fell under new control, thus creating a huge dent in the economy on the Americans side, and the developing America could not take a hit like this would provide.
Basically, the Americans had no other alternative other than to enter WWI. With the numerous slaps in the face by Germany on the issues of both the U-boat affair and the Zimmerman note, and the potential loss of American investments and an economy setback had the Allies lost, the U.S. intervention was inevitable and would have been unethical for Wilson not to enter the war.
During the war, the Allies and the Central Powers were forced to interrupt each others trade relationships in order to protect themselves. Unfortunately, this would also affect the U nited States when the British Blockaded Germany, in an attempt to cut off the Central Powers supplies.Goods were seized destined for the United States. The British labeled the goods as contraband, and it was seized by the Royal Navy. This was a direct violation of international maritime law. When the U.S. told the British that their actions were in violation of the law, the British stated it was seizing goods intended for Germany, not neutral ports.
Eventually, Germany's actions violated their neutrality agreement. They declared that all British waters were war zones, and that any shipping in British waters would be sunk by U-boats (undersea boats or submarines.) This meant that German captains would have to attack ships without checking them, this obviously led to the sinking of neutral vessels. This policy interfered with American imports and exports, and eventually led to the sinking of the British passenger liner, the Lusitania by a U-boat. The result of this was the killing of more than a thousand passengers, as well as 128 Americans. President Wilson threatened to cut off diplomatic relations with Germany on two occasions the first being after the Lusitania, and the second being after the Sussex was torpedoed and two Americans were injured. The Germans agreed to stop attacking without warning in the Sussex pledge. In 1917 they resumed their U-boat attacks, forcing the Americans to arm their merchant ships in order to protect themselves from the U-boats. This upset the Americans, and was a key reason that Wilson decided to interfere in the war.
Another key event was the plotting against Americans in the Zimmerman note. The Zimmerman note was diplomatic telegram written by the Germans Alfred Zimmerman. In it, he offered Mexico, in return for their help if the U.S. did enter the war, the land which they had lost in the Mexican -American war, if the central powers were victorious.
Along with the Zimmerman note and the U-boat affair, President Wilson had the United states economy in mind when deciding to enter the war. Many Americans had investments, primarily on the French side. If the French had lost, numerous Americans would have lost their assets, when it fell under new control, thus creating a huge dent in the economy on the Americans side, and the developing America could not take a hit like this would provide.
Basically, the Americans had no other alternative other than to enter WWI. With the numerous slaps in the face by Germany on the issues of both the U-boat affair and the Zimmerman note, and the potential loss of American investments and an economy setback had the Allies lost, the U.S. intervention was inevitable and would have been unethical for Wilson not to enter the war.
posted by poeticlyspeaking at 6:42 AM
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