World War I Essays (1128 words) - French Third Republic,

World War I The name commonly given to the war of 1914-1918, which began in Europe and was fought principally on that continent but eventually involved all the continents of the world. While the wars between Great Britain and France from 1689 to 1815 had been extended to North America, Africa, and Asia, they remained wars between European governments. The term "world war" is properly applied to the conflict of 1914-1918 because the various parts of the British Empire in all continents as well as many countries in Asia and North and South America participated in it. For the first time, all the great powers of the world were engaged: Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, and Russia in Europe; Japan in Asia; and the United States in North America. It is estimated that by the end of the war about 93 percent of the population of the world was in greater or less degree involved. The two opposing sides in the war were; The Allies Or Entente Powers Britain, France, Russia (left December 1917), Italy (entered May 1915), Serbia, Belgium, Romania (entered August 1916), USA (entered April 1917) The Central Powers Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey (entered November 1914), Bulgaria (entered 1915) THE ENTERY OF THE USA TO THE WORLD WAR I The United States was never neutral throughout The Great War, despite the President Woodrow Wilson's declaration of neutrality, and a direct declaration of war against the Central Powers was an inescapable occurrence. When war was come into existence in Europe in 1914, it was impossible for the United States, an emerging world power, to avoid conflict despite its efforts to. President Wilson immediately issued a declaration of neutrality because entering into a war would be against the prevalent progressive spirit of the time and America had a tradition of avoiding European conflicts whenever possible. Nevertheless, The United States remained completely neutral from 1914-1917. " Continued interruption of trade and travel on the seas by both the allies and central powers, especially attacks by German submarines, which was the main reason for the United States to enter the war in 1917." Great Britain's powerful navy quickly took control of the Atlantic and set up a blockade, cutting off American trade with Germany. Germany, on the other hand, attacked British supply lines with their new invention, the U-boat. The United States accepted Great Britain's blockade and stopped trade with Germany, although a demand by the United States that free trade allowed surely have been agreed to. On the other hand, instead of accepting Germany's attempt to stop American shipping to the Allies, Wilson demanded that Germany stop all attacks on American ships, but accepted nearly the same thing when perpetrated by the British. The population of America, although against involvement in the war, supported the Allied cause. This was due to both the cultural similarities and roots shared between the United States and Great Britain and the large scale British propaganda campaign in America, in an attempt to get the United States involved in the war. The propaganda along with German practices of sinking ships without giving passengers a chance to escape and attacking the neutral country of Belgium (both of which violated international law) led to an intense Anti-German sentiment throughout the population. America was clearly not a neutral country, but Americans did not wish to become directly involved in the war. German U-boats had taken many American lives with their attacks on merchant ships, including the Lusitania where 128 Americans were killed, which lead to America demanding an end to the U-boat attacks. The Germans responded by temporally ceasing submarine warfare in 1916 under the Sussex Pledge until 1917 when Germany announced the continuation of submarine warfare and ended diplomatic relations with the United States. In an attempt to eliminate the threat of American involvement in Europe, Foreign Minister Alfred Zimmerman of Germany attempted to provoke Mexico into attacking the United States with the promising her Texas, New Mexico and Arizona in return. The British decoded a message containing Zimmerman's intent and sent to the US, further swaying Americans to action. Berlin, January 19, 1917 "On the first of February we intend to begin submarine warfare unrestricted. In spite of this, it is our intention to endeavor to keep neutral the United States of America. If this attempt is not successful, we propose an alliance on the following basis with Mexico: That we shall make war together and together make peace. We shall give general financial support, and it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in New