The Importance Of The United States Interventionist Policy

Submitted By hardika13
Words: 883
Pages: 4
Open Document
In the early 20th century as war broke out between the nations of Europe, the United States maintained its policy of neutrality. Remaining true to the traditions imposed by his predecessors, Washington and Jefferson, Wilson issued a declaration of US neutrality and called upon the American people to support his policy by not taking sides. However, as the interests of the United States started to become intertwined in the politics of the European nations and the theater started to expand to areas of American involvement, US intervention became inevitable. Initiated by financial gains, America’s economic policy towards the Allied powers and Germany’s retaliation of submarine warfare played the most critical role in the United States’ interventionist policy. This resumption of an aggressive German military strategy in an attempt to cut off Allies supplies combined with British induced propaganda fostered an aggressive public opinion to result in Wilson’s request for a declaration of war.

Even though the United States was officially a neutral nation, its close economic ties to Great Britain and France played an essential role in its future involvement. Before 1914, the United States had been in a business recession. However, after the outbreak of the war, the US economy rebounded as a result of increasing shipment, to the British and French, of war supplies. In addition to guns and ammunition, when unable to finance their massive consumption, the United States also provided the allies support through the form of loans from banks such as J.P. Morgan. This furthered US prosperity while simultaneously removing American from the zone of neutrality. The United States’ increased involvement in the affairs of the British opened a route of war entrance similar to the alliance system. America’s economic policies could have remained neutral by aiding both the allied and central powers, but the British blockade effectively restricted any trade with Germany and as a result initiated tension between the two nations that would eventually result in hostility and force the United States to wage a war against the aggressive policies of the respective nation.

Initially, attempting to only challenge the British naval power, Germany employed the submarine to create a counter blockade to British hostility. However as the United States entered the “war zone” US neutrality was challenged by the sinking of the Lusitania. Killing a substantial amount of Americans on the British passenger liner, this event created a great uproar within the American population and through the British induced propaganda aroused great rivalry against the Germans. While the aggressive Germany military strategy was weakening US German relations as portrayed in Wilson’s warning to cut off US diplomatic relations after the attack on the Sussex, American hostility towards the Germans was truly aroused only after the exaggerated propaganda of the British. Many citizens obtained a negative view of Germany after it’s sinking of the Lusitania and America’s unintentionally favored British policies; however public opinion still remained relatively under control. However, when British commanded war news started supplying stories of the atrocities committed by German soldiers, the ruthlessness of the Germans was exaggerated in the eyes of the people and began to view the war as a fight of righteousness. After the British portrayal of the Lusitania crisis, a few small, but vocal minorities such as the influential Republicans of the East rose up went as far to argue for US entry into war against Germany.

Also influencing public opinion, Wilson’s moral policy provided the nation with a united cause to wage war. Setting aside the politics of pro-war republicans and anti-war
Show More

Related Documents: The Importance Of The United States Interventionist Policy

FDR And The Reasons For Entry Into WWII Essay

FDR and the reasons for entry into WWII Pearl Harbour The attack on Pearl Harbour was a surprise military strike conducted by the Japanese military against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941. The attack was intended as a preventive action in order to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet from interfering with military actions the Empire of Japan was planning in Southeast Asia against overseas territories of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the…

Words 362 - Pages 2

Essay on Australia in the vietnam war

of reasons. The reasons were based on politics, strategy and defence. The main reasons Australia became involved in were because of a fear and threat of communism arose due to its expanding, to keep true to the SEATO and ANZUS treaties that were signed, to support the United States following WWII and to gain a connection with the United States and to support the fellow anti-communist state of South Vietnam. In my opinion, I support Australia going to the Vietnam War, due to all of the reasons above…

Words 1327 - Pages 6

Pearl Harbor Turning Point Analysis

downfall of Western Europe as center of world power and led to the rise of the Soviet Union. Battlegrounds spread everywhere, causing economic problems, nationalism, and the formation of the Allies and Axis powers. There were many turning points in WWII that led to the Allied victory, including bloody battles, invasions, and sporadic attacks on multiple countries. The german invasion of Russia, Operation Barbarossa, in June of 1941 opened the Eastern Front, eventually leading to Germany’s defeat…

Words 598 - Pages 3

Compare And Contrast W1 And Ww2

know much about them? The two wars are typically thought as very similar, and while that is true, they also have many differences. Basically, WWII was much worse because of their differences, including the countries involved and affected, the types of technology and warfare strategy, and the number of casualties. The first reason behind the fact that WWII was worse than WWI was the countries involved and affected. WWI was fought by two sides, each consisting of several countries. The Allies, eventually…

Words 710 - Pages 3

M4 Medium Sherman Research Paper

most used tanks in WWII, the U.S. army M4 medium sherman tank, and the russian T-34 medium tank. These tanks were some of the most used and we will be telling you about the advantages and disadvantages of the M4 Sherman and facts about the T-34, but first I am gonna tell you a little bit about both of the tanks. The M4 Sherman (U.S. army M4 Medium Sherman Tank) began production in 1941 and was used until the end of WWII. The M4 Sherman was one of the most manufactured tanks in WWII about 50,000 made…

Words 391 - Pages 2

Ww2 Turning Point

There have been many turning points in wars that eventually lead to victory Operation Overlord or D-Day was the deciding factor that led to victory in WWII Europe. There are many reasons D-day was the major turning point in WWII, but there were five major reasons this one invasion could become the biggest turning point throughout WWII. Those reasons are the allied leaders, massive numbers, strategies, deception, and effects. The allied leaders of the battle played a crucial role…

Words 1169 - Pages 5

World War II Essay

are many reasons as to why WWII began but I think two very important reasons were the treaty of Versailles and Adolf Hitler himself. The reason why the treaty of Versailles was a cause of WWII was because of how harsh the reparations were on Germany. This directly led to the second cause, which is Adolf Hitler. Hitler got involved in politics after he served in WW1 and quickly rose to power. The anger and suffering of the German people because of the treaty of Versailles is a big reason why I believe…

Words 497 - Pages 2

Summary: The Rape Of Nanking

that there was no indiscriminate killing at all in Nanking, and the so-called Nanking massacre was a fabrication and that the Tokyo Trial had “overlooked atrocities by Chinese soldiers” (Fogel 87). This type of historical revisionist claim is one reason why China demanded a trial on a fact-finding basis to resolve these false claims. Certainly, the Chinese felt that it was necessary to counter these revisionist historical accusations made by the Japanese in the…

Words 1502 - Pages 7

Atomic Bomb In Ww2 Essay

The use of nuclear weapons against Japan in WWII by the USA was unjustified In WWII, the nuclear bombing by the USA was an injust crime against Japan. On August the 6th of 1945, the Americans dropped a uranium bomb, ‘Little boy’ on Hiroshima and dropped another bomb on the 9th of August, ‘Fat man’, on Nagasaki. This action was unreasonable as the nuclear bomb was purposely made to end the war sooner so the Japanese could surrender, even though they were bound to anyway. This weapon killed and suffered…

Words 615 - Pages 3

Essay about hannahs files

Hannah Burkart Social Studies Period 02 12/14/13 WWI was a war that happened for many reasons but started mainly from mistrust and jealousy. In the end Germany had been the one to blame for the entire war, and eventually led to WWII. How this started was that in the end of WWI, they held a meeting with America, France, Britain, and Italy. They were discussing who to put the blame on for the war and who would be facing the consequences. In the end, all of the countries at the conference decided…

Words 1025 - Pages 5