why did wilson shift from a policy of neutrality to a declaration of war?

Answer 1

For all of the rhetoric about Woodrow Wilson being a Man of Peace dedicated to Ending War - - - -the truth is much murkier. World War One began in August 1914, deep into Wilson's first term. At that moment in time Britain & France were running the show - - - So Wilson being an astute Politician found a variety of reasons NOT to go to war - - - Just Yet. The sinking of the Lusitania on May 7 1915 was as good an excuse as any for Declaring War, but No, WIlson had his agenda to tend to and that meant no war until securing a second term.
In November 1916 Woodrow Wilson won reelection on the slogan "He Kept Us Out of War." Sworn in for a Second Term on March 4 1917, WIlson soon asked Congress to Declare War. He had lots of reasons for doing so, the Germans provided plenty of provokation, but the bottom line is that Wilsonalwats intended on going to war and by 1917 an exhausted France & Britain were in a much more concillatory mood.

Peace

Answer 2

Although the Lusitania was sunk in 1914 it did give the U.S. a taste of Imperial Germany's tactic of unrestricted submarine warfare. But, to me, the reason for Wilson seeking a declaration of war in April of 1917 came about because of the Zimmerman note. This was a diplomatic not to the Mexican government promising them German help if they decided to invade the U.S. and reclaim the lands they had ceded to the U.S. under the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo which had ended the Mexican War of the 1840s.
In his first term Wilson had dispatched U.S troops on a punitive expedition into Mexico. So, his fears of having a restless neighbor with ambitions of invading the U.S. were real.

Answer 3

the LUsianita being torpedoes with a few hundred americans on board haad much to do wit h the country favoring intervention, also there where many US cargp ship being sunk, and Germany was not apologizing for amy of them, the other major factor was that the stalemate in Europe was not solving anthing, and we where economically in much need of having the war end with the european trade market being practically closed tho US ships. Money had alot to do with it, we where isolationist only in foreiegn policy, not in trade policies, and Money is the deep root of all wars, every war ever fought has it roots in economics. People get a little upset when there finances are being severely cut by a war, and have less arguments to stay out of the mess, and WWI was a definite mess that we really had no reason to be in, but passions during war a hard to judge after the fact, like todays war in Iraq, everyone practically wanted the war after 911, even the majority of the opposing party, yet today most want to distance themselves from there passions of yesterday.

Answer 4

Because of the Germans' Unrestricted Submarine Warfare.

Answer 5

How I wish I could make such a detailed answer...but I'm only a junior in high school that really loves this subject. I remember the sinking of the Lusitania and the Zimmerman telegram, mainly...