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…