W.W.I and W.W.II essays

W.W.I and W.W.II essays At the beginning of W.W.I and W.W.II, The United States tried to remain neutral, however they were unsuccessful both times. During the period of 1912-1917, and the period of 1939-1941. The U.S. proclaimed its neutrality policy but this did not stop the U.S. from ever entering the war or favoring a side. At the beginning of World War I, President Wilson stated that all Americans should remain impartial in thought as well as deed. This was the beginning of Americas neutrality policy. But this was impossible, more many reasons. For one thing, many Americans were not impartial. German Americans and Irish Americans sympathized with the German cause, while many more, including Wilson sided with Britain. Also, economic realities made it impossible for the United States to stay totally neutral. The British had imposed a naval blockade on Germany to prevent munitions and supplies from reaching the enemy. The United States stopped trading with Germany and continued to trade with Great Britain. This was not a neutral decision. Tensions between the U.S. and Germany began to grow. In American eyes, the Germans were using barbaric tactics, like submarine warfare. German submarines were sinking British ships with American passengers on them. This greatly angered the United States. In 1915, President Wilson endorsed an ambitious proposal by American military leaders for a large and rapid increase in the nations armed forces. By 1916, armament for a possible conflict was well under way. This increase in weapons was also not a neutral action by America. After Wilson was reelected as President, he proclaimed that the United States was committed to using the war as a vehicle for constructing a new world order, one based on the same progressive ideals that had motivated reform in America. Soon after this Germans began unrestricted submarine warfare against all of the American ships giving supplies to Great Brit...