One reason the United States emerged from World War II a clear world power was that "<span>The United States suffered fewer casualties during the war," since the US had been protected from the conflict by the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. </span>
Both nationalism and imperialism, along with militarism, were very intertwined during this time, since nationalism created an "us vs. them" type of mentality that led countries to want to take over and occupy more territory.
These are the correct statements that describe the United States' movement from neutrality to engagement in World War I.
- One of the main causes of the United States declaring war on Germany was the use of unrestricted submarine attacks.
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President Wilson campaigned in the 1916 election with the slogan "He kept us out of war."
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The United States began to support war against Germany after the Zimmerman telegram was intercepted.
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The Zimmerman Telegram was from Germany to Mexico, promising them territory gained in the Mexican-American war if they allied with Germany.
Further details / historical context:
Prior to World War I, the United States had adopted a mostly isolationist view, not wanting to be involved in affairs across the ocean that were not directly related to our national security. When the war broke out, the United States did not impose a trade embargo on either side -- but American trade tended to be more with the Allies than with Germany. Similarly, President Wilson permitted loans to both sides, but loans to the Allies by 1917 were more than $2 billion, while American loans to Germany were only around $27 million.
Though Wilson campaigned in 1916 on the fact that he "kept us out of the war," by 1917 he and the nation were ready to go to war.
The reasons that led to US declaration of war:
- In January, 1917, Germany had resumed its policy of unrestricted submarine warfare. Germany had halted its attacks on non-military vessels (which it suspected of carrying military supplies) after the furor over the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915. But now Germany was resuming attacks by its U-boats.
- In February, 1917, the "Zimmerman Telegram" was intercepted by British intelligence and shared with the US. Germany's foreign minister, Arthur Zimmerman, had telegraphed an offer to Mexico's ambassador seeking Mexico's support in war vs. the United States in exchange for getting land back from the US.
- On April 2, 1917, President Wilson made a powerful speech to Congress in which he argued that the nation needed to enter the war "to make the world safe for democracy." Wilson's speech was powerfully convincing, and four days later, Congress declared war.
