<span>The majority of Americans
felt that the United States should stay out of World War I because it
was not a signatory to any of the agreements that had lured the European
powers into conflict across the continent, so President Woodrow Wilson
declared a neutrality policy, attempting instead to broker a peace
agreement. Even when a German sub sank the British ocean liner
Lusitania in 1915, with 128 Americans on board, the United States
demanded a stop to the destruction of passenger ships, and Germany
agreed, leading to continued American neutrality.
The expansion of colonization was important for the Industrial Revolution in England because as industry grew more raw materials were required. England produced limited raw materials, therefore it depended heavily on colonization in Asia and Africa. Its colonies were important sources of raw materials, such as cotton and rubber. England typically invested enough to make a profit in the colonies, usually building railroads and telegraph lines. Local workers in the colonies were exploited through low wages and dangerous work conditions.
