APUSH

The United States' entry into the Great War of Europe was justified due to various reasons. The war started because of nationalism, imperialism, militarism, and alliances. The United States initially had a neutrality policy but eventually got involved due to events like the Zimmerman Telegram and unrestricted submarine warfare. The war had both positive and negative effects, including economic growth and improved living standards, but also significant human suffering and mental health decline. The U.S. benefited economically from the war, but the toll it took on lives is questioned. Diplomatically, the U.S. played a role in shaping post-war order but also faced criticism for not joining the League of Nations. Non-intervention could have allowed Germany to dominate Europe. In conclusion, the U.S.'s entry into the war was justified for the betterment of American life and international relations. The post-war period also saw anti-communist hysteria and xenophobia. Wait, Mia, I have a question. Yes, Sabine? Was the United States' entry into the Great War of Europe justified? Wait, I forgot. Can you explain how the war came to be? Well, to start, the U.S. was becoming an imperialist nation, which meant that they were beginning to conquer and control different parts of the world and were competing with different world powers. This meant they were getting involved. This was so that they could establish themselves as a leader and a major world power. So territorial competition and fights for economic growth started the war? Well, kind of, but what really started everything was when Archduke Ferdinand, who was the heir to the Austrian-Hungarian throne, and his wife were assassinated by an ally. This basically saw the chain reaction of political tensions and military alliances. Essentially, overall, the reason the Great War started had to do with four main ideas. First, nationalism. Second, imperialism. Third, militarism. And fourth, the combination of public and secret alliances. When the war started, what side did the United States pick? Well, the U.S. had a neutrality policy, kind of based on the Monroe Doctrine and George Washington's Farewell Address. However, it was really difficult for the U.S. to stay out of it and not favor a side. Oh yes, I remember the Farewell Address. I also remember that there were allied powers of Great Britain, France, and Russia. Good memory. There were also the Central Powers, which was Germany, Austria, Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire of Turkey. Okay, thanks so much for catching me up. Now it's all connecting. Yeah, overall, the U.S. was just in a hard position. U.S. ships had been seized by Britain for their blockade, and they used this blockade to cut off supplies from getting to Central Powers. However, Germany also sunk the Lusitana. This was a British passenger line that had 182 U.S. passengers that died when it was sunk by Germany. Let's jump into our first category, looking at the economic, human, and societal costs of the war and significant economic growth during this period. The war stimulated production and provided job opportunities, improving the living standards of many African Americans and women. This period prompted the Preparements Movement, a campaign advocating for military and naval expansion in anticipation for potential involvement in the war. The economic growth during this period is important. However, what's more important is the people of America. During this time, so many lives were lost. In fact, the census says about 116,000 lives were lost. This is very hard on Jamaican communities. Furthermore, due to the intense fighting style on the Western Front, which was trench warfare between the Allied Powers and the Central Powers, many more lives were lost, although the United States had a lot less losses than the other powers in the war. For some, this still could not be justified, though. Moving on to the topic of scrutiny of the American people, the Zimmerman Telegraph revealed a potential threat to the U.S. as Germany sent a message trying to involve Mexico in the war against us. Our entry aimed to make a more secure world in order by supporting the Allied Powers. The Zimmerman Telegram was concerning, since it said they would help Mexico take U.S. territories. But maybe the U.S. could handle it in a different way, not using military intervention. The declaration of war by the U.S. was a response to a series of events, including the Zimmerman Telegram and unrestricted submarine warfare on behalf of the Germans, which was for sure damaging and threatening to U.S. lives. On to improved existence. Did the lives of Americans or others improve due to the war? The economic growth and global power achieved during this war cannot be overlooked. The war led to an increase in war production and labor demand, prompting many Americans to migrate to urban centers in search of economic opportunities. The Great Migration saw African Americans moving to the North and West in search of better opportunities, escaping racial violence and limited economic growth in the South. I guess you could look at it that way. However, there was major human suffering, and the mental health of those during this time period took a major decline, especially for the soldiers who experienced physical disabilities or, even worse, death. Additionally, some soldiers experienced PTSD after the war, which made it very hard for them to come back to normal life after the really harsh realities of war. Was the improvement in existence really worth the sacrifice of so many lives? The Sedition Act enacted during the war was created to restrict freedom of speech and target those who spoke up against war. Now, economic growth. Without question, the war contributed to industrial production and economic gain for America. Many argued these financial benefits justified our entry into the war alone. As victory in favor of the Allied powers became obvious, the Treaty of Versailles concluded the war and imposed heavy reparations on Germany, contributing to that country's economic struggles in the aftermath. However, a big question is, does the benefit from the economic gain outweigh the toll this war took on the United States? At the end of the war, the Treaty of Versailles, which was the peace settlement that ended World War I, ended up actually getting rejected by the U.S. Senate, particularly by the reservationists, who worried about territorial commitments, the League of Nations, and possible invasions of American sovereignty. Diplomatic development is our next category. By supporting the Allied powers, the U.S. bettered its diplomatic relations and played a role in shaping post-war order. After the war, the League of Nations proposed by President Woodrow Wilson his most significant idea from his 14 points, and the goal was to prevent future conflicts through collective security and diplomacy. However, maybe the U.S. could have done this with a different approach. They for sure could have accomplished things without military interference. Again, this caused a lot of death. However, in some cases, the U.S. did not interfere. For example, by rejecting the Treaty of Versailles, the U.S. also did not join the League of Nations. This was good because it prevented further involvement in foreign affairs staying true to Washington's original farewell address. One of the reasons Treaty of Versailles was not passed was because Article X disobligated member nations to defend the territorial integrity of other members, which promoted involvement in foreign affairs. Lastly, the cost of non-intervention. Non-intervention could have allowed central powers, specifically Germany, to dominate Europe, threatening global stability. Mia, we could have handled this diplomatically. The cost of the war just did not justify the benefits. The reservationists, who wanted changes to the Treaty of Versailles, believed in preserving America's sovereignty while participating in international affairs. In conclusion, when we consider the economic growth, the security of the American people, improved existence, and diplomatic developments, it becomes clear that the U.S.'s entry into the Great War was justified. President Wilson made a decision for the people and truly improved American life, but also bettered international relations. Effects of not joining the war would have made the U.S. a little diplomatic power and less opportunities for trade. Okay, I guess I can see where you're coming from, Mia. I like to add that anti-communist hysteria and xenophobia that followed the war, fueled by fears of the Russian Revolution and spread of radical ideologies, further complicated the post-war landscape. This sentiment played a significant role in shaping the U.S. policy and domestic affairs in the years that followed. Thank you so much for listening, and let us know what you think in the comments below. Make sure to tune in to our next podcast episode.