World War I: causes, consequences, and historical significance

World War I

At the beginning of the First World War, the United States was determined to be neutral. Then President Woodrow Wilson pledged that this was a European war and that the United States would not take part in the fighting. The majority of the American people were against involving their nation with the war overseas, much like how the situation was preceding the Second World War. Without the public opinion in favor of war, the politicians in Washington, D.C., did not feel that entering into the war was the right thing. However, even though they had declared themselves neutral, the U.S. had been providing supplies and weapons to Great Britain and the allies for some time. Almost since the war began in early 1914, American manufacturers had been increasing production and preparing just in case the United States became embroiled in the action.

Following the 1915 sinking of the British liner Lusitania by German submarines, public opinion began to change. There were Americans on board the ship when it was sunk and the Germans were therefore accused of committing an act of war against a neutral government. Known to the Germans, but not those on board, was that the Lusitania happened to be carrying large amounts of ammunition destined for Great Britain and their war effort (Dwyer 2004). It soon was learned that the Germans and their allies were committing other atrocities which violated the human rights of others and went beyond what was considered acceptable, even during times of war.

There was also evidence by this time that the Germans were engaging in spying and sabotage on American soil. The most famous example of this was the Black Tom incident during which a German spy exploded a hold of American munitions. Perhaps the most tragic example of these bombings was the April fire which destroyed the Hercules Powder Company in Eddystone, Pennsylvania. More than 100 people were killed in the flames or in the collapse of the building. Most of the victims of the attack consisted of women and young children who were working in the factory at the time.

In July of 1918, a German U boat actually attacked the relatively peaceful location of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Two ships were sailing around the Virginia capes, the Lansford and the Perth Amboy. Both of the boats were attacked by German submarine U-156 (Pletcher 2006, 97). A short time before the attack on Orleans, four British trader ships as well as one Dutch trader had been sunk off of the coast of Nantucket by German subs (Gill 1919,-page 121). After authorities were informed, airplanes set off from a local airfield and flew overhead, dropping two bombs on the U boat. Neither exploded but the sub, whether exhausted of ammunition or fearing backup, sailed away. Analysts who reviewed the facts of the event determined that, "during the Battle of Orleans the German submarine had wasted more money in ammunition than their helpless targets were worth" (Pletcher 2006, 102). The only possible explanation then, officials argued, was that the attack was intended to terrorize the American citizens and instill them with a fear that the enemy could strike at any time.