At the start of the war in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation of neutrality, urging Americans to remain impartial and refrain from taking sides.
However, the policy of neutrality became increasingly difficult to maintain as the war intensified.
- The United States had significant trade and financial interests with the Allies, and its economy benefited greatly from the war.
- Britain, in particular, relied heavily on American supplies, including food, munitions, and financial loans.
- The sinking of the British passenger liner Lusitania by a German U-boat in 1915, with the loss of over 100 American lives, further inflamed public sentiment in the US against Germany.
- Wilson attempted to mediate a peaceful settlement between the warring parties through diplomatic initiatives, but his efforts were unsuccessful.
- In early 1917, Germany announced a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare in the Atlantic, targeting both military and civilian ships without warning, in an attempt to cut off supplies to Britain. This move brought the US directly into the conflict.
- In April 1917, the United States declared war on Germany, citing violations of international law, freedom of the seas, and the protection of American lives and interests.
Overall, the United States' stance on World War I evolved from initial neutrality to eventual intervention, driven by economic ties, moral concerns, and the violation of its principles of freedom of navigation and protection of its citizens' rights.