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On April 6, 1917, the United States officially declared war on Germany, abandoning its long-standing policy of isolationism and entering the global conflict that had been raging in Europe since 1914. For nearly three years, President Woodrow Wilson's administration navigated a complex path of neutrality, balancing strong public sentiment to stay out of the European war with growing economic and ideological ties to the Allied powers.
This policy of non-intervention was first seriously challenged by Germany's naval strategy. The sinking of the British passenger liner RMS Lusitania by a German U-boat in May 1915, which resulted in the deaths of 128 Americans, was a pivotal moment. This event, combined with reports of German atrocities in Belgium, began to shift American public opinion against Germany, framing it as the primary aggressor in the conflict. Though the U.S. did not enter the war at that time, the incident laid the groundwork for future intervention.
The final impetus came in early 1917. Germany, desperate to break the stalemate on the Western Front, announced its decision to resume unrestricted submarine warfare, targeting all ships in the war zone, including neutral American vessels. This was a direct threat to American lives and commerce. The situation was further inflamed by the interception of the Zimmermann Telegram, a secret German communication proposing a military alliance with Mexico against the United States. This was a difficult choice for President Woodrow Wilson, who had recently won re-election on a platform that pledged to keep the country out of the conflict. Faced with these direct provocations, Wilson concluded he had no other option but to ask Congress for a declaration of war.
The American entry was a turning point. Although the U.S. military was initially small and unprepared for a large-scale European war, the country mobilized quickly, instituting the Selective Service Act to draft soldiers. The U.S. also brought immense economic power to the Allied cause. American material aid, financial loans, and fresh troops helped exhaust the Central Powers, ultimately contributing to the Allied victory in November 1918. This involvement marked the emergence of the United States as a major global power, a role it would continue to navigate throughout the 20th century.
