History of Asia

What prompted President Wilson to the US into World War 1?

The immediate trigger for the United States' entry into World War I was the German announcement of unrestricted submarine warfare in February 1917. This policy involved the sinking of merchant ships without warning, even those of neutral countries, in an attempt to cut off supplies to the Allied Powers (Britain, France, and Russia). American public opinion was outraged by the loss of life and property, and President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war. The United States officially entered World War I on April 6, 1917.

In addition to the unrestricted submarine warfare, there were a number of other factors that influenced President Wilson's decision to enter the war. These included:

* The desire to protect American economic interests. The Allies owed the United States billions of dollars in loans, and Wilson feared that a German victory would jeopardize these debts.

* The desire to promote democracy. Wilson believed that the Allies were fighting for a just cause, and that a victory for Germany would be a setback for democracy around the world.

* The desire to prevent a German victory. Wilson feared that a German victory would lead to a new era of militarism and aggression in Europe, and that the United States would be drawn into future wars as a result.

Ultimately, it was the combination of these factors that led President Wilson to the United States into World War I.