World War 1 Analysis

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Pages: 6

Analysis of The United States and the First World War The United States and the First World War by Jennifer D. Keene examines several factors of World War I. She looks into reasons the United States entered the war, and how President Woodrow Wilson’s ideas about the purpose of the war were viewed by other Allied leaders as well as the people of the world. She also makes note of how the government was involved with the economy during the war and how their relationship with the businesses of America shift post-war. Also mentioned is how the social environment and liberties of the citizens were impacted during wartime. Keene addresses the importance of the United States military in the war and how they influenced the outcome of the war. Finally, …show more content…
He attempted peace settlements three different times. First, Colonel Edward House went to Europe during the sinking of the Lusitania. This convinced America that the Allies should win the war. During the second peace attempt in 1916, the British wouldn’t budge on freeing the seas that they were barricading, the Germans wouldn’t budge on submarine warfare, and the French wouldn’t negotiate until they were winning on the western front, so no deal could be made. The final attempt was when Wilson addressed the U.S. senate in January of 1917. He had outlined a plan for peace based on democracy, not entangling alliances, freedom of the seas, and equality between the rights of nations. In that same year, the British blockade caused the Germans to renounce its policy on submarine warfare. Any ship within war zone had the potential to be attacked. This is what caused Wilson to break off ties with Germany. However, since there was no declaration of war against Germany from the U.S., Germany thought they took a risk that paid off. After the policy on submarine warfare was lifted, over half a million tons of Allied materials were sunk per month. The Allies went to Wilson and told him that without the supplies they would lose the war. Wilson’s solution was to arm merchant ships so that they had a fighting chance, but there was still no entering of the