Neutrality

Historical Context: The year 1914 marked the beginning of World War I in Europe.
U.S. Stance:
- The United States began to supply the Allies with weapons and goods.
- President Woodrow Wilson declared a clear position of neutrality, indicating a refusal to support either side.
- Wilson urged citizens to "be neutral in fact as well as in name" and "impartial in thought as well as in action."
Wilson's Presidential Goals:
- Elected president in 1912, Wilson aimed to focus on domestic economic reform.
- In 1913, he noted the irony of potentially handling foreign affairs instead.
- Wilson promoted the motto "America First" to underline prioritizing American interests.

Moral Diplomacy Concept:
- Wilson advocated for moral diplomacy, emphasizing a significant reduction of U.S. intervention in foreign nations' affairs.
- He believed the U.S. should exemplify democracy and support self-governance abroad.
Contrast with Dollar Diplomacy:
- Wilson's approach contrasted with the dollar diplomacy of his predecessor, William Howard Taft, which justified U.S. interference where American profits were at stake.
Implementation:
- Wilson aimed for less American involvement in regions like the Philippines and Latin America.

General Sentiment:
- Majority of Americans supported Wilson's neutral stance in the European war but many sympathized with various countries involved.
Ethnic Considerations:
- Over five million German Americans tended to favor the Central Powers.
- Three million Irish Americans had anti-British sentiments, aligning with the enemies of England due to resentment of British rule in Ireland.
- Russia's authoritarian regime was generally viewed with suspicion.
- Nonetheless, many Americans felt connected to Britain and France due to their shared democratic values and historical ties.

Propaganda Efforts:
- Germany initiated a significant propaganda campaign to influence American public opinion involving pamphlets and advertisements.
Espionage and Sabotage:
- German operatives engaged in espionage and sabotage to disrupt the Allied war effort.
- Methods included destroying American goods before shipment to Britain, impacting U.S. businesses financially and posing risks to civilian lives.
- Instances of sabotage uncovered further turned public opinion against Germany.
Armenian Genocide:
- Reports of the Turkish government's atrocities against Armenian civilians contributed to the negative perception of the Central Powers.
- This campaign came to be known as the Armenian genocide.

U.S.-Allied Economic Relations:
- In 1914, U.S. exports to Britain and France totaled $754 million, compared to $190 million exported to Germany.
- As the war progressed, U.S. exports to Britain and France in 1916 surged to $2.75 billion, while trade with Germany dropped to nearly nothing due to the British blockade.
Financial Relationships:
- The Allies borrowed billions from the U.S. government and from American banks and investors to finance their war efforts, creating a vested interest in their victory for American investors.

Isolationism Trend:
- Traditionally, the U.S. followed a policy of isolationism, avoiding political entanglements in Europe.
Risk to American Lives:
- With Americans at sea, the presence of German U-boats posed significant danger.
Submarine Warfare:
- Germany employed submarines (U-boats) in response to the British blockade, targeting not only military vessels but also merchant ships associated with Allied supplies.
- Even passenger ships that carried U.S. citizens were threatened as they were suspected of transporting war-related cargo.

The Sinking Incident:
- On May 1, 1915, the Lusitania, a large and luxurious passenger ship, set sail from New York to Liverpool.
- On May 7, 1915, a German U-boat sank the Lusitania with a torpedo, resulting in the deaths of 129 Americans.
Wilson’s Response:
- President Wilson expressed outrage over the loss of American lives and demanded apologies and constraints on German submarine warfare.
- Germany eventually consented to suspend unannounced attacks on civilian ships.

Continued Neutrality:
- Despite the Lusitania sinking and various casualties, Wilson maintained a stance against entering the war.
Re-election Platform:
- Wilson campaigned in the 1916 election on a platform of prosperity and peace, proclaiming, "He kept us out of the war," and won re-election.
Attempts at Peace:
- Wilson advocated for an end to hostilities through negotiation, but both Britain and Germany turned down his proposals to mediate a peace treaty.
- In January 1917, Wilson called for a "Peace Without Victory," suggesting that lasting peace can only exist among equals.
- The warring nations were not willing to compromise, believing resolution could only be found through military victory.

Circumstances in 1917:
- By this time, the British blockade was effectively starving Germany of essential resources.
Military Strategy:
- In desperation, Germany opted to resume unrestricted submarine warfare to disrupt supply lines to Great Britain, knowing it would provoke the U.S. public and government.
- German military leaders gambled that intensifying submarine warfare could incapacitate the Allies before the U.S. could mobilize.

Interception of the Telegram:
- British intelligence intercepted a telegram from German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmerman to Mexico's ambassador, proposing an alliance against the United States.
Terms of the Offer:
- The telegram promised financial support for Mexico should it attack the U.S. and included a promise to return territories (Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico) to Mexico.
Public Announcement:
- Wilson revealed the contents of the Zimmerman Telegram to the public on March 1, 1917, intensifying calls for war.

Accelerated U.S. Involvement:
- Following the sinking of three American ships on March 18, 1917, the situation rapidly escalated.
Wilson’s Call to Action:
- On April 2, 1917, Wilson requested Congress for a declaration of war against Germany, emphasizing a commitment to global peace and peoples' liberation.
- He stated that the war was about the ultimate peace for all, including the German people.
Congressional Response:
- Congress agreed to the declaration, and the U.S. officially declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917.