How the Decision to Declare War was Influenced
The decision to declare war on Germany was greatly influenced by allied propaganda, American economic interests, and German naval policies. Although most Americans were against involvement in a European war these influences increased its position in the war. The loss of money and the demand for defense was necessary for the war. Also propaganda was running high at this time.
Before World War I broke out, European countries had begun to increase and bulk up their military forces. In the late 1800’s it was known that Germany had the best army in the world. These military build-ups were a product of Nationalism. Other European countries enforced military draft and increased their forces as well. Great Britain was not very concerned about military forces. However, since Great Britain is an “island country” it was known to have the world’s strongest navy. In 1898, Germany began to build its naval force. This competition of power made Germany an enemy of Great Britain. The British navy formed blockades that kept supplies from reaching German ports. By 1916, Germany was in serious need of food and other supplies. Germany fought back with submarines, which were called U-boats. Germany set up a submarine blockade to prevent supplies from getting to Great Britain. The U-boats destroyed many gooRAB and supplies headed for Britain. On May 7, 1915, Germany fired on a passenger liner, the Lusitania. There were 1,198 passenger deaths, of which 128 were Americans. This prompted President Woodrow Wilson to push Germany to agree to naval warfare restrictions. By Septeraber, they agreed they would not attack passenger or non-threatening ships. In February, Germany returned to unrestricted submarine warfare. They knew this might prompt the United States to enter the war. They thought they could starve Britain into surrendering before the United States got involved. During most of the war, the ships that Britain and Germany had built stayed in home waters. The Battle of Jutland was the only major battle between the two navies. The British fleet had 150 warships while the German fleet had 99 warships. Both Germany and Britain claimed victory even though Britain lost more ships than Germany. Britain still had control of the seas.
The U.S. had been so anti-war that they were not prepared when they entered. The war had not been a threat to American property or lives. Most Americans wanted the Allies to win, but they did not want to get involved. However, they did have an opinion that was strong and divided. Many of the naturalized American citizens were in support of the country where they originally lived.
Socialists were critical of the war because they felt it was English and German business men’s way of controlling raw materials and commerce in China, the Middle East, and Africa. They wanted America to be the peacemakers. There was also much sympathy for Great Britain and France due to the aggressive and cruel war they were fighting.
Following the Zimmerman note, many brutal attacks occurred. Four unarmed American merchant ships took thirty-six lives and Russians ended their czarist regime replacing it with a representative government. Now the argument for war could be that it was a war of democracy against monarchies. Government propaganda painted the war as a fight for liberty and democracy.
The war greatly affected the U.S. economy both before and after getting involved. Americans, especially African Americans moved from one area to another in order to make more money. The nation’s industrial economy suddenly had to hire women for positions that men had once taken. These women were helping to produce the weapons for the men to fight. These women work the same jobs that men had worked for less pay. When the war was over, they lost their job. The demand for weapons and war supplies was so great that private industry could not handle it alone; so government had to get involved. President Wilson was given control over most of the economy by congress. He had the power to fix and regulate prices for war related industries.
Wages rose as much as twenty percent in ship building, meatpacking and metal industries. Due to inflation however, the buying power for white-collar workers decreased as much as thirty-five percent. This unfairness increased union activities and strikes. The Food Administration was set up to regulate prices, production and distribution of food.
America had strong economic ties to the Allies. The U.S. traded mostly with Great Britain and France. The United States sent millions of dollars in supplies to the Allies. This also began the labor shortage.
The issue of German brutal naval warfare, the money being sent to allies, and the propaganda to promote the war, were all reasons the United States could not continue to avoid involvement. It was a war of freedom and fairness.
The decision to declare war on Germany was greatly influenced by allied propaganda, American economic interests, and German naval policies. Although most Americans were against involvement in a European war these influences increased its position in the war. The loss of money and the demand for defense was necessary for the war. Also propaganda was running high at this time.
Before World War I broke out, European countries had begun to increase and bulk up their military forces. In the late 1800’s it was known that Germany had the best army in the world. These military build-ups were a product of Nationalism. Other European countries enforced military draft and increased their forces as well. Great Britain was not very concerned about military forces. However, since Great Britain is an “island country” it was known to have the world’s strongest navy. In 1898, Germany began to build its naval force. This competition of power made Germany an enemy of Great Britain. The British navy formed blockades that kept supplies from reaching German ports. By 1916, Germany was in serious need of food and other supplies. Germany fought back with submarines, which were called U-boats. Germany set up a submarine blockade to prevent supplies from getting to Great Britain. The U-boats destroyed many gooRAB and supplies headed for Britain. On May 7, 1915, Germany fired on a passenger liner, the Lusitania. There were 1,198 passenger deaths, of which 128 were Americans. This prompted President Woodrow Wilson to push Germany to agree to naval warfare restrictions. By Septeraber, they agreed they would not attack passenger or non-threatening ships. In February, Germany returned to unrestricted submarine warfare. They knew this might prompt the United States to enter the war. They thought they could starve Britain into surrendering before the United States got involved. During most of the war, the ships that Britain and Germany had built stayed in home waters. The Battle of Jutland was the only major battle between the two navies. The British fleet had 150 warships while the German fleet had 99 warships. Both Germany and Britain claimed victory even though Britain lost more ships than Germany. Britain still had control of the seas.
The U.S. had been so anti-war that they were not prepared when they entered. The war had not been a threat to American property or lives. Most Americans wanted the Allies to win, but they did not want to get involved. However, they did have an opinion that was strong and divided. Many of the naturalized American citizens were in support of the country where they originally lived.
Socialists were critical of the war because they felt it was English and German business men’s way of controlling raw materials and commerce in China, the Middle East, and Africa. They wanted America to be the peacemakers. There was also much sympathy for Great Britain and France due to the aggressive and cruel war they were fighting.
Following the Zimmerman note, many brutal attacks occurred. Four unarmed American merchant ships took thirty-six lives and Russians ended their czarist regime replacing it with a representative government. Now the argument for war could be that it was a war of democracy against monarchies. Government propaganda painted the war as a fight for liberty and democracy.
The war greatly affected the U.S. economy both before and after getting involved. Americans, especially African Americans moved from one area to another in order to make more money. The nation’s industrial economy suddenly had to hire women for positions that men had once taken. These women were helping to produce the weapons for the men to fight. These women work the same jobs that men had worked for less pay. When the war was over, they lost their job. The demand for weapons and war supplies was so great that private industry could not handle it alone; so government had to get involved. President Wilson was given control over most of the economy by congress. He had the power to fix and regulate prices for war related industries.
Wages rose as much as twenty percent in ship building, meatpacking and metal industries. Due to inflation however, the buying power for white-collar workers decreased as much as thirty-five percent. This unfairness increased union activities and strikes. The Food Administration was set up to regulate prices, production and distribution of food.
America had strong economic ties to the Allies. The U.S. traded mostly with Great Britain and France. The United States sent millions of dollars in supplies to the Allies. This also began the labor shortage.
The issue of German brutal naval warfare, the money being sent to allies, and the propaganda to promote the war, were all reasons the United States could not continue to avoid involvement. It was a war of freedom and fairness.