At the end of the summer of 1914, a war broke out in Europe. When the situation became critical, US President Woodrow Wilson declared that the country would remain neutral and not join any warring parties. This position did not meet with general approval and was later called the policy of isolationism (Russett, 2018). War on Germany was declared only towards the end of the conflict in 1917.
The reasons for the policy of non-intervention in the affairs of Europe before 1917 can be explained. The contradictions between the warring parties did not yet require the intervention of a major world leader. Many Americans remained confident that the situation in Europe would quickly return to normal, and there was no point in sending their army (Russett, 2018). The main reason was the unwillingness of the United States to interfere in Europe affairs.
Despite Wilson’s hope that the US would remain neutral in thought and deed, it did not materialize. Tensions between the US and Germany arose when Germany tried to blockade the British Isles, then sank several American ships. On May 7, the British liner Lusitania was torpedoed without warning by a German submarine, killing more than 100 Americans (Kennedy, 2020). The United States sent three notes to Berlin protesting these actions; public opinion began to turn irrevocably against Germany. On March 1917, Germany sank four American ships, and on April 2, President Wilson called for a declaration of war on Germany and pointed out the need to fight to preserve democracy (National Archives, 2022a). One of Wilson’s points at the basis of the future peace of 1918 was absolute freedom of navigation – what was violated by Germany (National Archives, 2022b). American entry into the war greatly improved the Allied forces and was a turning point.
Although it was indeed unprofitable for America to enter into a conflict, it cannot be said that neutrality was maintained from 1914 to 1917. The reaction with words and condemnation towards Germany could not but occur in response to the death of the Americans. However, no military action against Germany was taken before 1917. It can be said that America managed to maintain neutrality in ‘deed’, but not in ‘thought’.
References
Kennedy, R. A. (2020). Wilson’s wartime diplomacy: The United States and The First World
War, 1914–1918. In Dietrich, C.R.W. (ed.) A Companion to US Foreign Relations: Colonial Era to the Present, 304-324.
National Archives. (2022a). Joint Address to Congress Leading to a Declaration of War Against
Germany (1917). Milestone Documents. Web.
National Archives. (2022b). President Woodrow Wilson’s 14 Points (1918). Milestone Documents. Web.
Russett, B. M. (2018). No Clear and Present Danger: A Skeptical View of the United States Entry into World War II. Routledge.