World War I Dbq

World War I between the Allied Powers and the Central Powers began in early August of 1914. Germany was quick to declare war on Russia and France, initiating conflict between the countries. This conflict was expressed in the form of secret alliances, nationalism, etc., beginning the first few years of the twentieth century. With hopes of preserving order, the United States declared its neutrality on August 19, 1914. Considering a lack of bias, it began that the US would trade with the opposing nations. However, the sinking of ships carrying American citizens by German submarines and the Zimmerman Note in early 1917 caused the United States to side against the Kaiser and to favor the Allies. In a message to Congress, Woodrow Wilson encouraged "the spirit of impartiality and fairness" two weeks following the initiation of war. The concept would encourage positive treatment towards all, but considering the diversity of the American people, choosing sides was nearly inevitable. Overall, the country remained neutral; the US received an economic boost due to trading with either side. People like Hugo Munsterberg, a professor at Harvard University, insisted that America's acts were for "the unlimited sale of ammunition to beligerants" in a letter to President Wilson himself a few months after the war began. It was noted that most German-Americans from the beginning sided with the Central Powers, disrupting any true sense of neutrality in the United States. Wilson, however, refused to associate with either side directly at this point. Great Britain blockaded the North Sea as soon as they became aware of United States' shipments to Germany. Every American ship was inspected so carefully that it "not infrequently lasted for weeks," recalled Acting Secretary of State of the time, Robert Lansing. These blockades initiated German u-boat warfare near the British Isles. This made it complicated for the United States to continue trade with either side. In January, 1915, William Jennings Bryan sent a letter to Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations expressing that "It is the business of a belligerant [...], not the duty of a neutral, to prevent contraband from reaching the enemy." Even with this being said, however, Germany was prepared to retalliate violently. In May of 1915, the British passenger ship, the Lusitania, was sunk by German submarines, though not without warning. The Imperial German Embassy sent a notice to the New York Times cautioned travellers to sail "at their own risk." Because they did not heed the warning, 1,100 people were killed, including 128 Americans. However, it was noted later the same year that the Lusitania contained 5468 cases of ammunition, which angered the United States. Wilson went on to send messages to Germany, as he was upset that any amount of Americans had to die for the sake of a war that didn't concern his country. A little over two months later, another ship was sunk by Germans. The final straw was in 1916 with the sinking of the Sussex, a French merchant ship which carried more Americans. Wilson hereby threatened to "sever" diplomatic relations with Germany, a statement strong enough to be one step from a war declaration. These "mass murders" left Americans angry and unsure of where to stand. German officials promptly issued the Sussex Pledge, promising not to sink unarmed ships without warning. There was a string attached, though, asking the United States to lighten Great Britain's blockade. The latter suggestion was ignored by Wilson, but the former was accepted with open arms. Though Germany stayed true to her word for the remainder of the year, instigations continued later and Wilson stayed wary. The American people, at this point, were already picking sides, even going as far as holding anti-German feelings. But their behavior was almost nothing in comparison to how they behaved after German official, Arthur Zimmerman, offered a deal to Mexico, bribing them into joining the Central Powers with promise to "reconquer the lost territory" from the Mexican American war in the 1840s. British spies intercepted the telegram and leaked the information to the press, causing outrage in America. The previously isolated, impartial west and midwest now encouraged the fight against the Central Powers. At this point, the United States refused to associate with Germans and all hopes of neutrality were shattered. Although his platform boasted the slogan, "he kept us out of war" in 1916, on April 2, 1917, Wilson issued a declaration of war in the name of democracy. Woodrow Wilson, known for being stubborn and strong-minded, refused to let the Germans get the best of the United States. The "python" that was the German military attempted to squeeze the life out of Europe and the US, but not without proper fight. The instigations of Germany against the United States' neutrality was what truly altered her stand, from dangerous submarine warfare to the outraging Zimmerman Note.