Why did the U. S. become involved in the first World War ?

Answer 1

While the US was claiming to be neutral in the war, we were also selling arms to the allies. The Germans had no strategical choice but to sink the ships that were supplying arms to their enemy.

That is the reason that the German U-boat sunk the Lusitania (a passenger ship that was also carrying weapons bound for England) which is what our government used as an excuse to enter the war.

You cannot aid one side and claim to be neutral.

Answer 2

They were going to remain uninvolved, but then a German U-boat mistook the U.S.S. Lusitania (a passenger ship) for a military ship and torpedoed it.

The Americans got really ticked off about that and entered the war. Didn't make much difference though. Remember, WW1 was in the nineteen teens, and America didn't build up its military until WW2 in the ninteen forties.

And as usual, quite a few of the Americans here have the story wrong. Can't really say I'm surprised. History is not usually taught very well in American schools.

Answer 3

as in almost any such situration, there were many reasons

the sinking of the Lusitania was an "outrage" that helped put it over the top but there were many people calling for U.S. involvement way before that

many americans were against involvement and stayed that way throughout the war and afterward

some americans saw the war as democracies versus totalitarian states that would eventually descend on the U.S.

some saw the whole thing economically

others thought we were just supporting our traditional allies

it is all very interesting and if you really want a feel for it, you need to read some stuff written back in 1915-1917

each war is different but they all have much in common also

Answer 4

First in 1915 the Germans sank a ship called the Lusitania (http://www.pbs.org/lostliners/lusitania.html) which the US wasnt too pleased about. The further sinking of American ships by German U- Boats put pressure on the US Government to enter the war. In January 1917 the British Secret service also got hold of the Zimmerman telegram (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimmermann_Telegram) which was a communicae from Germany to Mexico seeking an alliance against The US. Germany actually had promised Texas to Mexico funnily enough. So sinking ships and possible mexican invasion did it.

Answer 5

Same reasons we have entered every war. Economic gains.

The American populace did not support the entry into the war, nor was there clear support for one side over the other.

Propoganda and the deliberate sacrificing of american civilians by president Wilson was used to win support for the war against Germany.

America was sending military supplies to the French and English on passenger filled luxury liners knowing full well Germany would have to attack these ships and that their sinking would spark the needed support for the war.

Answer 6

For Wilson it was justifiable in August 1914 to ask the American people to be "impartial in thought as well as in action... neutral in fact as well as name." But by December, when the expectation of a short war had vanished at the Marne and the armies were locked in the deadly stalemate of the trenches, the war was already touching us. Forced to recognize that American business could not be held immobile, Wilson had already in October reversed his earlier ban on loans to belligerents. This was the foundation for the economic tie which thereafter in ever-increasing strength and volume attached the United States to the Allies. By permitting extension of commercial credit it enabled the Allies to buy supplies in America from which the Central Powers, by virtue of Allied control of the seas, were largely cut off1). It opened an explosive expansion in American manufacture, trade, and foreign investments and bent the national economy to the same side in the war as prevailing popular sentiment.

Answer 7

For the same reason we are in the current war...fight 'em over there or fight 'em there. Britain was under constant attack from Germany and was one of the last European countries still standing. If Britain would've been taken the German's would've soon come after the US and we would've been completely alone. We decided to preempt, and assist our long since allies. We wanted nothing to do with either World War, we just knew that if we didn't step in that the world and US would have been lost.

Answer 8

The U.S. tried to stay out of the European squabble, but when the Germans started sinking our passenger ships with torpedos from their U-boats during the period of unrestricted naval warfare, the U.S. could no longer ignore the provocation.

Answer 9

sinking of the ship luisatnia and submarine warfare on our ships

Answer 10

they become involved when they saw aggression over the seas and saw themselves in danger when freedom of the seas was not respected. the US always becomes involved when its liberty is challenged in any way.