America’s Entry into WWI

I. Entry into the War

• American Neutrality– Official proclamation at outset of war– Diverse Causes

• Tradition of Isolationism• Ethnic Groups• Economic Ties

I. Entry into the War

• Economic Ties– Wilson wanted to maintain trade with Allies

and Central Power– British blockade effectively stopped trade with

Germany– As such, trade with Allies became far greater– The US did lend to both Allies and Germans,

however.

I. Entry into the War

• Disintegrating Neutrality– 1915-16: Unrestricted German submarine

warfare– Lusitania (1915)– 1916: Sussex Pledge– By 1917, unrestricted submarine warfare

resumed– Zimmerman Note

I. Entry into the War

• War– April of 1917, US official declares war on

Germany– Roosevelt heartbroken

II. The “Corporate Liberal” Thesis

• Thesis: Wilson allowed/brought the US into the war for the sake of maintaining corporate and colonial interests.

II. The “Corporate Liberal” Thesis

• Wilson’s Foreign Policy:– Strongly interventionist in Latin America

• Mexico (1914)• Haiti (1915)• D.R. (1916)• Mexico (1916)• Cuba (1917)• Panama (1918)• Nicaragua (1912 and onwards)

II. The “Corporate Liberal” Thesis

• Hence, some historians have claimed that Wilson had been serving corporate interests well before the US entry into the War.

II. The “Corporate Liberal” Thesis

• The failure to treat the belligerent nations of Europe alike, the failure to reject the unlawful "war zones" of both Germany and Great Britain is wholly accountable for our present dilemma.

• —Senator Robert M. LaFollette Opposition to Wilson's War Message, April 4, 1917

II. The “Corporate Liberal” Thesis

• By 1917, American loans to the Allies had soared to $2.25 billion; loans to Germany stood at a paltry $27 million.

• -- The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

III. Reluctant Leader Thesis

• Wilson was drawn into the war by forces beyond his control

• Specifically…– British blockade FORCED Wilson to act to

protect trade– Nature of unrestricted submarine warfare also

forced Wilson into action– Progressive Philosophy

III. Reluctant Leader Thesis

• Economy-– Gov relied on 40% of its revenue from the

tariff; faced 60-100 million dollar deficit if current trade levels were not maintained

– The South, in particular, needed foreign markets for bumper crop

III. Reluctant Leader Thesis

• Economy-– As such, Wilson authorized loans to Allies in

an effort to protect the US economy, not to harm Germany.

III. Reluctant Leader Thesis

• Submarine Warfare– Violated traditional rules of neutrality– Freedom of the seas was a major concern of

Wilson’s even before the war

III. Reluctant Leader Thesis

• Submarine Warfare– As such, Wilson responded in what he

thought was a logical manner– Submarine warfare compounded by

Zimmerman Note

III. Reluctant Leader Thesis

• Progressive Philosophy– “Making the World Safe for Democracy”

emerged from • submarine warfare • progressive philosophy

– Writ large

III. Reluctant Leader Thesis

• Thus, Wilson was drawn into the conflict by forces beyond his control.

IV. Evaluation?

• Which thesis seems more valid?