First World War Research Paper

The First World War was a global war that began in Europe and impacted various nations worldwide. The status of various counties’ involvement in the war changed as it progressed. The United States, being one of these nations, was not originally involved in the war but later joined for various reasons. Although the U-boat campaign of 1917 played a large role in the United States entry into the First World War, other factors, such as German instigation, and economy, influenced President Wilson to enter his nation into the war. In part, Germany’s aggression was responsible for the United States’ entry into the war, by creating tensions with attacks and instigation. Firstly, Germany expressed aggression through their unrestricted submarine warfare …show more content…
Wilson created his Fourteen Points Plan with the intention of establishing peaceful cooperation between nations. The first five points of this plan evidence his goal of peace as they focus on peaceful and non-secretive bilateral relations, freedom of the ocean, and reduction of weapons. Collectively, these points attempt to resolve the issues that caused the First World War and maintain peaceful relations between nations. Also, Wilson’s creation of the League of Nations evidences his attempt to secure peace. The organization was an attempt for nations to negotiate and preserve peaceful relations amongst each other. Despite the lack of the United States’ entry to the League of Nations, just the creation of the organization displays Wilson’s concern for nations to preserve relations that avoid violence. Holistically, Wilson entered the United States in the First World War as a result of these attempts at peace. He believed that by ending the war, the United States could bring a lasting a secure peace that would be maintained by his Fourteen Points Plan that included the League of Nations. His reason for entering into the war was partially moral, in his quest for global peace, alongside obligational due to aforementioned German tensions caused by the U-boat campaign and Zimmermann …show more content…
Firstly, United States exports doubled between 1914 and 916, and seventy percent of these exports went to Europe. The economic improvements made by trade display that the United States was benefitting from the war, while remaining neutral. However, the distribution of these exports in Europe caused the nation to enter into the war. The exports given to Great Britain were proportionally larger than those given to Germany, evidencing the United States’ favoritism before the war. Also, this disproportion of trade created poor relations with Germany that caused the United States to enter. Furthermore, the United States economic dealings with Europe impacted their depression in 1914. United States’ trade during the war allowed for the economy to come out of the depression and suggests that the country did not have total isolation from the war. This wartime trade allowed for minor involvement form United States that created a gateway for greater participation till they were fully entered in the First World War. The economic involvement of the United States prior to entry allowed for gradually more involvement, until finally the nation was forced to enter due to German