Influence of German Naval Policy, American Economic Interests, and Allied Propaganda on the American Decision to Declare War on Germany in 1917
Assess the relative influence of three of the following in the American decision to declare war on Germany in 1917. German naval policy, American economic interests, and allied propaganda The American decision to declare war on Germany was influenced by several factors of varying degrees. To a great extent, the aggressive German naval policy contributed to the involvement of the United States in World War I. A secondary influence on this decision derived from U.S. economic interests abroad and on the homefront. Another influence leading to America’s entrance into war was the use of Allied propaganda. Therefore, the combination of German naval policy, American economic interests, and allied propaganda influenced to the American decision to declare war on Germany. The stimulus of the German naval policy was arguably the most impactful on the decision of the U.S. to declare war on Germany. Though the U.S. had been established with neutrality, American trade with countries at war was unhindered. As the war progressed the Central power of Germany became depleted of resources due to a blockade of highly advanced fleet of war ships. U.S. became involved in a conflict when Germany threatened our trade with Great Britain. Several German U-boats began sinking ships that were sailing for either the transportation of people or goods and arms.[1] Wilson viewed these actions as “wanton act[s],” and after a particular ship called the Lusitania was torpedoed by German U-Boats in 1915, the U.S. threatened to retaliate with military intervention against Germany. By this point the American population exhibited a growing resentment toward the German regime. Although the German government agreed first to restrict their submarine warfare via the Arabic pledge by sending a warning before taking aggressive naval action, but later changed to a new restriction via the Sussex which restricted this warfare by targeting only enemy military ships. Wilson, who strived for “peace without