Critical Analysis of US Policy and Involvement in the First World War

This essay provides a comprehensive analysis of US policy during the First World War. It begins by examining President Wilson's initial declaration of neutrality and the subsequent efforts to maintain trade relations with both sides of the conflict. The paper then explores the reasons behind America's eventual shift from neutrality to active engagement in the war, including political pressures, economic considerations, and the desire to safeguard democratic principles. The essay delves into the factors that led to this change in stance, highlighting the deterioration of trade relations, domestic pressures, and the belief that the war would end all wars. Ultimately, the paper argues that the US policy during WWI was significantly influenced by economic interests, political considerations, and the desire to uphold democratic ideals on a global scale. The essay concludes by summarizing the key arguments and emphasizing the complex nature of US foreign policy during this pivotal period in history.

Running head: US POLICY DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
US POLICY DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
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Introduction
As stated by Snyder, the foreign policy which was followed by the nation of USA during
the First World War had been the central lacuna of numerous critical debates and scholarly
works over the years. Levy and Mulligan are of the viewpoint that an important reason for this
can be attributed to the fact that the USA government initially followed a policy of neutrality or
isolation at the beginning of the First World War however towards the end of the same it actively
participated in the war. Furthermore, the USA government even declared the First World War as
the war which will end all wars and justified its participation within the same on the basis of this
particular aspect (Leonhard). Moreover, the USA government maintained strong trade relations
with Britain, its allies and even with the nation of Germany as part of the policy of neutrality
which was being followed by it. However, by the end of the war under discussion here it was
seen that USA troops were garrisoned within the European nations and they actively fought
against the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy (Scott). As the War
fulminated in Europe, President Wilson had argued that the United States must retain its neutral
position in this war, further urging Americans to act impartial in thought as well as in action
however towards the end of the war America changed its stance and thereby actively participated
in the war. The purpose of this research paper is to undertake a critical analysis of the US policy
during the First World War. The questions on which the paper would specifically focus upon are
listed below-
1. With the breakout in Europe in 1914, why did Wilson declare that the United States
would strictly follow a stringent policy of neutrality?

2US POLICY DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
2. Following the policy of neutrality, how and why did the United States initially
endeavoured to establish trade business with Britain and its allies and also with the
Germany?
3. During the end of World War One in 1918, several American troops were in Europe.
Why and in which ways did the United States advanced in order to form a policy of
neutrality to highly developed engagement with the war in Europe?
Discussion
Beckett, Bowman and Connelly are of the viewpoint that the First World War (1914-
1918) is often considered to be one of the most significant events within the annuals of world
history which completely changed the course of the entire world history. Adding to this, Jacob
and Van Ells have noted that the First World War was fought between the Triple Entente
comprising of Britain, France and Russia and the Triple Alliance comprising of the nations
Germany, Italy and Austria-Hungary. An interesting fact to note in this regard is the fact that the
nation of USA which at the beginning of the 20th century was considered to be one of the most
important superpowers of the world decided not to participate in the concerned war (Le Bon).
Furthermore, it was not until April 6, 1917 that the nation of USA decided to join the
concerned war for extending its support to Britain and its allies at the behest of President
Woodrow Wilson (Jahn). However, at the same it needs to be said that despite its late entry into
the First World War, USA played a pivotal role within the same and directly contributed towards
the victory of Triple Entente (Klautke). For instance, the USA contributed more than 4 million
soldiers towards the war out of whom around 10,000 died in the war and around 35,000 soldiers
died on the score of the 1918 Spanish influenza outbreak (Whalan). More importantly, during the

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war the nation of USA used to send 10,000 everyday to the Western Front along with regular
supply of arms, ammunitions, money and other resources which were being needed by the Triple
Entente for fighting the war (Mulligan). As a matter of fact, the total expense incurred by the
USA government during the First World War was more than $32 billion (Marsh). Thus, it can be
said that the approach of activism which was followed by USA towards the latter half of the First
World War was in complete contradiction to its initial stance of neutrality or isolation.
Le Bon is of the viewpoint that there are various reasons for the stance of neutrality
which the nation of USA at the beginning of the First World War, the majority of which were
related to trade and commerce. Adding to this, Leonhard has noted that at the beginning of the
20th century the nation of USA had active trade relations with the different nations of the world
like Britain, France, Germany, Italy and others which were involved in the First World War.
More importantly, the industrial boom within the nation of USA at this particular point of time
required the concerned nation to have an effective relationship with the different nations of the
world so as to be able to sell the commodities manufactured by its business corporations in the
markets of the other nations. Furthermore, the friendly or for that matter the cordial relationship
that USA maintained with the other nations of the world also facilitated the procurement of the
raw materials and other important resources which the different business corporations of the
concerned nation required for the manufacture of the commodities manufactured by it (Jahn). In
this relation, it needs to be said that the trade relations that the nation of USA shared with the
other important nations of the world directly contributed towards the growth as well as the
stabilization of the national economy of the concerned nation and also helped it to become a
superpower as well (Scott). Thus, President Wilson insisted on following a policy of neutrality or
isolation during the initial years of the First World War so as to safeguard its trade relations with

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its major trade allies which included nations from both the groups which were involved in the
First World War.
As discussed by Mulligan, the decision of the nation of USA to enter the First World War
in the year 2017 can be seen as the last resort or for that matter the usage of the last possible
option which was available to the concerned nation. Adding to this, Levy and Mulligan have
noted that the towards the end of the First World War, it became very difficult for the nation of
USA to ardently maintain its stance of neutrality or isolation which it had followed during the
entire course of the First World War. This can be explained on the basis of the fact that the
nation of USA shared close political as well as trade relations with the nation of Britain and this
in turn put extensive pressure on the concerned nation to join Britain in the war under discussion
here (Snyder). More importantly, in the face of the First World War, the trade relations that the
nation of USA shared with the other nations of the world like Germany, Italy and others started
to deteriorate and this in turn completely nullified the economic objective because of which USA
maintained a neutral stance during the initial years of the First World War (Whalan).
Furthermore, it was seen that the national government of USA was facing intense pressure not
only from the different politicians of the concerned nation but also from the common people of
the nation as well for participating in the war under discussion here. As a matter of fact, the
intelligentsia of the concerned nation declared the war as the war which would end all wars and
thus the nation of USA being the most important superpower could not afford to be completely
neutral towards the same or for that matter not participate in the same (Klautke). These in short
were some of the most important reasons which propelled USA to change its initial stance of
neutrality or isolation which it followed in the initial years of the First World War.

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Beckett, Bowman and Connelly are of the viewpoint that the most important concepts
which dominated the American Revolution were “liberty, equality and fraternity” and the
concerned nation also pledged to create a world wherein the individuals would not be deprived
of these basic rights. Adding to this, Jacob and Van Ells have noted that the USA government
actively in the political affairs of the different nations of the world like Cuba, Nicaragua and
others prior to the First World War not only for safeguarding these basic rights of the people of
the concerned nations but also for the purpose of safeguarding the democratic system was being
followed in those nations as well. More importantly, during the war under discussion here it was
seen that within the nations of German, Italy, Austria and others not only the common people of
these nations were being deprived of these basic fundamental rights but also the political system
of democracy was being replaced with autocratic rule (Levy and Mulligan). In addition to these,
it was seen that the people of the concerned nation were being deprived even of their basic
human rights which in turn adversely affected the quality of the life that they led (Scott). Thus, it
can be said that the decision of the national government of USA to change its stance of neutrality
or isolation and thereby actively participate in the First World War was an initiative of the
national government of the concerned nation to safeguard democracy and also the basic human
rights of the people in these nations.
Conclusion
To conclude, the foreign policy which was followed by the nation of USA during the
First World War had been a topic of much discussion over the years. For instance, in the initial
years of the First World War, the nation of USA followed the policy of neutrality or for that
matter the policy of isolation. In this relation, it needs to be said that this particular policy
followed by the national government of USA during the initial years of the First World War was

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greatly motivated by economic reasons since the USA shared close trade relations with almost all
the nations involved in the war under discussion here. However, in the latter half of the First
World War because of increasing political pressure from Britain, its own citizens and also for the
purpose of safeguarding democracy as well as the basic human rights of the people in Germany,
Austria, Italy and others, the nation of USA had to actively participate in the concerned war.
These aspects of the US foreign policy during the First World War become apparent from the
above discussion of the same regarding the initial stance of neutrality or isolation followed by
USA during the initial years of the First World War and its active participation in the war
towards its end.

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