U.s's Neutrality during the years of 1914-1917 [question]?

Question

Why was it so difficult for America to maintain its neutrality from 1914-1917?

Answer 1

Due to the blockade of Germany by the English ships we could not trade with Germany,, likewise due to the threat of u-boat attacks on American shipping around England it was dangerous to to try and trde with England or France. This severly hampered the american economy. When it was discovered that Germany was conspiring with Mexico to attack the U.S., see the Zimmerman Telegram, it was impossible for the United States to stay neutral.

Answer 2

yes, it was difficult for the US to maintain neutrality and there is evidence to the contrary that we were truly neutral from the onset. We have had always a soft spot for England because it is like a child's relationship with their mother. We must look at a few issues that could have sway the attitude.
1. unrestricted submarine warfare was destroying commerce or trade from neutral countries as well as those in conflict
2. propaganda was definitely anti German by vocabulary and artistry.EX. Liberty cabbage instead of sauerkraut ; hot dogs instead of frankfurter ; German soldioers bayonating babies which there was no evidence that this was true.
3. Zimmerman note and proposing Mexico stir up border troubles with the US as a distraction from Europe was blamed on Germany but it could have been written by the US themselves to get USinto the war more quickly.
4. the sinking of the Luisitania- was it more than a cargo ship? The explosion indicated that possible armaments were aboard to aid the Allied effort which would have been a clear violation of neutrality.
5. the US was not given the nickname the " arsenal of democracy" for only granting humanitarian aid. In fact , the First World War rought out our lack of neutrality by the words that our companies had become munition stations for destruction.

Answer 3

1. Britain controlled the seas and therefore most of the information coming to America was definitly slanted with a pro-Allies bent.

2. The Zimmerman Telegraph....Definitly one of the most stupid blunders that Germany could have pulled. Actually asking Mexico to declare war on the U.S. was NOT a smart move.

3. Unrestricted submarine warfare....Most people at that time had a rather naive view of war. Sinking ships with out giving them a chance to fight back offended many people's sence of fairplay. Plus of course, American business men were loseing money from the sunk cargoes.

4. Though America had a large German-American sub-class, it was still a sub-class that was nowhere near the size of the predominatly Anglo-Saxon majority that just naturally sided with the "Mother Country" Britain.


5. The German attack on the neutral country of Belgium and the reported abuse of the population by German soldiers was widely believed by the American population though almost all of the reports were fabricated by Great Britian for exactly that effect.