Introduction
When World War I (WWI) broke out throughout Europe, the then US president declared that the nation would remain neutral in the fight. Most Americans supported this non-intervention policy with no vital interests. Locke & Wright (2019) state that the opinion of the public on neutrality began changing in 1915. As a result, President Wilson sought the approval of Congress to declare war against Germany and America officially joined the conflict on 6th April 1917 (Locke & Wright, 2019). Consequently, the US domestic policy officially transited from that of isolation to involvement in the affairs of Europe in WWI.
Issues that Led the US to Join WWI And Declare War against Germany
Although the Germans had promised to stop attacking passenger and merchant ships, they resumed unrestricted submarine warfare on the grounds that it would give them victory in the war. Further, the British, in January 1917, decrypted a ciphered message from the foreign minister of Germany to the country’s minister in Mexico. The telegram proposed a Mexico and Germany alliance in case America participated in the war on her Allies’ side (Locke &Wright, 2019). The Zimmerman telegram news and German’s recommencement of submarine attacks outraged the US public and became the primary motivation behind the decision for America to enter into WWI.
Wilson’s Post WWI Plan and its Progressiveness
President Wilson still sought peace above everything and, as a result, he publicized the Fourteen Points, which was a principles statement aimed for peace negotiations to bring WWI to an end. The most effective plan in this declaration was the call for the creation of the League of Nations, an international association designed to maintain world peace by restoring an enduring, and equitable global balance based on the consensus of the great powers. Wilson’s plan can be considered progressive because it took several domestic progressive ideas and transformed them into foreign policy (Locke & Wright, 2019). The proposal served as the framework of today’s United Nations, which affords mutual territorial integrity and political independence guarantees to all states.
Conclusion
WWI is among the most destructive and deadly conflicts that the world had experienced: millions of people died, and Europe was primarily leveled. The issues that led to America’s involvement in this were the German’s resumption of unexpected submarine attacks and the Zimmerman telegram. However, Wilson wanted peace, and he announced the Fourteen Points, a plan that consists of principles for peaceful negotiations. The plan was progressive as it led to the formation of today’s United Nations, among other policies.
Reference
Locke, J. & Wright, B. (2019). The American yawp: World War I & its aftermath. Stanford University Press. Web.