History of South America

What was position of the US on war in 1914?

The United States initially pursued a policy of neutrality in the early stages of World War I. President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation of neutrality in August 1914, urging Americans to be impartial in thought and action regarding the conflict. The US government sought to maintain trade and diplomatic relations with both sides in the war.

Wilson's policy was based on several factors, including the strong isolationist sentiment among the American public, concerns about the economic impact of the war, and a desire to avoid entangling the United States in a European conflict. The US also had significant economic ties with both the Allied Powers (Britain, France, and Russia) and the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire).

However, as the war continued and Germany escalated its use of unrestricted submarine warfare, sinking American merchant ships and causing civilian casualties, public sentiment in the United States shifted towards supporting the Allied Powers. In 1917, the US entered the war on the side of the Allies, citing Germany's actions as violations of international law and neutral rights.