Student Question
What long-term trends and immediate catalysts led to America's entry into World War I?
Quick answer:
America's entry into World War I was influenced by long-term trends such as its strong trade relations with Great Britain and the Progressive movement's ideal of improving the world, aligning with President Wilson's vision of "making the world safe for democracy." Immediate catalysts included Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare and the Zimmermann Note, where Germany attempted to persuade Mexico to join the war by promising the return of territories lost to the U.S.
The long-term trend that had the most to do with the US entering WWI was its trade relations with Great Britain. The US and Britain traded much more than the US and Germany did. This predisposed the US to side with Britain. Another trend that had something to do with this was the Progressive trend towards trying to improve the world. This made Americans responsive to Wilson’s idea of making the “world safe for democracy.”
There were also immediate catalysts. The most important of these was the unrestricted submarine warfare that the Germans were waging. Another was the Zimmermann Note, in which Germany tried to induce Mexico to enter the war by promising that Mexico would get back territory taken by the US in the Mexican War.
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