Influences on Americas Decision to Enter World War I

Influences on Americas Decision to Enter World War I

The American decision to declare war on Germany was influenced by a few different things. The German naval policy at the time was one major influence. Then there was Allied propaganda that made it hard for people to ignore war. Also, there was Woodrow Wilson's idealism. Together, these influences, as well as others, made it hard for America to stay out of the war.

During the war the German navy had started using U – boats as a different type of naval weapon. Because these U – boats were so new there were no laws or restrictions regarding how they should be operated. Because of this Germany targeted not only war ships but neutral passenger ships as well as merchant trading ships. Ships such as the Lusitania, the Arabic, and the Sussex are examples of innocent ships attacked by German U – boats in which American lives were lost. As a result of these attacks two pledges were made, the Arabic Pledge and the Sussex Pledge. Both pledges said almost the same exact thing. However, the Sussex Pledge stated that Germany would not attack any unarmed, non-threatening passenger ship without warning IF America persuaded Britain to lift their blockade on Germany. Wilson agreed to this even though America did not have the power to lift the blockade. Germans then continued to sink passenger and merchant ships killing American people which led to Wilson breaking diplomatic ties and practically guaranteed war.

Allied propaganda also influenced America's decision to go to war. Britain was in charge of the trans-Atlantic cable that sent messages from Europe over to America. Because Britain was part of the Allied forces America received a very "Allied" version of the war. This was supposed to make America feel bad for the Allies and make America want to join the war on the side of the Allies. Also, political cartoons and posters made