Effects of the postwar world

¶ … World War I on Politics

World War I was one of the most traumatic times for the young men in the world and in particular, in the U.S. That was a time when people were simply not prepared for a war on this scale and the death of millions of young men during the war left an indelible mark on the youth of the era. Naturally, this resentment and disillusionment had an impact on the political scene. The shaping of politics actually started much sooner than the end of war. It started when America decided to join the war and this generated a wave of resentment in the people.

United States did not want to join the conflict that had been rocking the world since 1914. Most Americans also supported government's policy and decided they wanted to stay out of war until 1917 when after a series of unfair German war tactics, President Woodrow Wilson decided to join the Allies and United States formally entered the war. The most important event that many believed triggered United States' entry was the 1915 sinking of British ocean liner Lusitania which resulted in the death of 128 Americans. This ship had been deliberately sunk by German soldiers to restrict and block the supply of food to British soldiers on the front. While the President had previously been remained staunchly against the war, he used some outrages like the sinking of the ship as an excuse to enter the war and secure victory for the Allies. It was for some a war by the kings against the kings. On April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson called an extraordinary session of Congress. The word had already leaked out the President was considering joining the war and pacifist staunchly opposed this action. They blocked the roads that were to take President to the Capitol from the White House. But the Sixty-fifth session did finally take place without much trouble at the appointed day and time. The President addressed Congress and explained his reasons for entering the war. He said: "I have called the Congress into extraordinary session because there are serious, very serious, choices of policy to be made, and made immediately, which it was neither right nor constitutionally permissible that I should assume the responsibility of making.

On the third of February last I officially laid before you the extraordinary announcement of the Imperial German Government that on and after the first day of February it was its purpose to put aside all restraints of law or of humanity and use its submarines to sink every vessel that sought to approach either the ports of Great Britain and Ireland or the western coasts of Europe or any of the ports controlled by the enemies of Germany within the Mediterranean

The new policy has swept every restriction aside. Vessels of every kind, whatever their flag, their character, their cargo, their destination, their errand, have been ruthlessly sent to the bottom without warning and without thought of help or mercy for those on board, the vessels of friendly neutrals along with those of belligerents.

With a profound sense of the solemn and even tragical character of the step I am taking and of the grave responsibilities which it involves, but in unhesitating obedience to what I deem my constitutional duty, I advise that the Congress declare the recent course of the Imperial German Government to be in fact nothing less than war against the Government and people of the United States....America is privileged to spend her blood and her might for the principles that gave her birth and happiness and the peace which she has treasured. God helping her, she can do no other." (Woodrow Wilson's war message)

United States' entry bolstered the Allied forces and gave them extraordinary power over the German Imperial army. With America's entry into the war, things suddenly changed as we were was no longer spectators. The response from the public was however not overwhelming since it had been made to believe that America wouldn't need to send its civilians to fight the war. Only 73,000 men out of a total of 10 million able-bodied men enlisted in the army.

The resentment grew consistently over the period of war and did not end with the end of war. It continued to grow and demonstrators took to streets resenting the death of millions of young soldiers lost during the war.