Question

President Wilson declared the United States neutral when WWI first broke out, but eventually led the country into war. Why did the United States decide to participate in the war and what effect American entry have on the allied war effort?

Answer 1

Why did United States participate in WW1?

Answer -The war in Europe started in 1914. US did not concern itself with the affairs of Europe. So it remained neutral and traded with both the allied forces and Germany as well. US advocated for peace across the world. But when German U-boats attacked the US ships across the Atlantic (one of them was Lusitania) American citizens were killed and it also resulted in a huge economic loss (around 1.2 billion) for the United States. The German forces refrained from attacking passenger vessels, once US protested, but later resumed again. German forces resumed the attacks because they thought blocking Atlantic would help them achieve victory.

Zimmerman telegram - German foreign minister Arthur Zimmerman sent a telegram to Mexico which stated that 'Mexico wage war on US and promised them that Germany will pay for all the costs' British were able to intercept the message and this message was sent to the United States where they published the telegram to the press. It turned American citizens against Germany.

Zimmerman telegram and attacks on US ships led the United States to declare war on Germany in 1917.

What effect American entry have on the allied war effort?

Answer - 1.No economic impact since US was already providing the allies with resources for the war even before they declared war.

2. Fresh American troops were being sent almost everyday. Thus boosting the morale of Allied forces.

3.The chances of winning the war by the Germans were made less with the involvement of United States.

4. The US provided supplies to the Allied forces which was needed because the war,which lasted for almost five years,(longer than they expected ) had drained them of food and military supplies.