America’s Decision to Declare War
There where many factors that lead to America’s decision to declare war on Germany in 1917. The war with Germany had been going for 3 years before America entered the war, at first America made it clear that it would remain neutral to follow George Washington’s belief that America should not get involved in foreign affairs or alliances. But as the war went on Americans began to believe that we should go to war with Germany. Many factors that lead for us to enter the war like the German naval policy, Woodrow Wilson’s idealism, and to protect America’s economic interest.
The German naval attacks were mainly targeting the merchant ships carrying food and war material that was being sent to Britain. Germany’s naval policy allowed U-boats to sink any ships even if they were not war ships. The U-boats began sinking American merchant ships with American seamen in them. Another boat that was sunk by the U-boats was the cruise ship the Lusitania, the Lusitania went by a war zone and a German submarine sunk the cruise ship killing hundreds of Americans. After this incident many Americans where pushing closer and closer to war they believed that it was not right to sink neutral ships with innocent people that had no involvement in the war.
Another main factor that contributed to America’s decision to enter the war is to protect Americas economic interest the reason why is because America was loaning money to France and Britain so they can pay for food supplies and other war supplies needed for the war. When America saw that there was a chance that Germany might defeat the allies they wanted to step in because they had to make sure France and Britain won so that they can pay back the money that the United states had previously loaned out to them. It was better for Americas economy if France and Britain won so they could pay them back which is why America wanted to help them out as...
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