World War 1

When World War 1 broke out in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson declared the United States neutral. Although U.S. soldiers did not fight until 1917, the country was never technically impartial in the conflict. Cultural and economic ties, U.S. predilection, and global political ideals manifested a tip in American scales toward the Allies, ultimately leading to the nation’s entrance in World War 1. In a message to Congress in August of 1914, President Wilson concedes that it is natural for Americans to sympathize with countries involved in the war; most citizens were descendants of the belligerent nations. In fact, Wilson himself claimed British ancestry. Americans traveled to England often, and the countries shared a language. British propaganda also mentioned cultural ties. America also had economic strings attached to the Allied Powers. Although American banks had loaned Germany money, it was only a miniscule amount in comparison to the wealth loaned to Great Britain. If Germany were to claim victory, Great Britain would never have the means to repay the money, thus leading to a widespread economic depression in America. This caused quite a predicament in Wilson’s theoretically perfect plan for neutrality. In a letter to President Woodrow Wilson, November 1914, Professor Hugo Munsterberg, Harvard University, observes evidence of American partiality in the Great War. He states that news sent by cable passed freely in the U.S., while all wireless news was censored. This proved unfair to Germany because it was the only country that used wireless news; England sent all news by cable. Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan rebutted by stating that by permitting belligerent wireless mail to pass through a neutral land, the land in question would be considered no longer neutral. Was the theory no different with cable news? Professor Munsterberg also acknowledges America’s unlimited arms sales to the Allies. Bryan’s only argument was the fact that sale of arms,