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continent they sought to colonize. During the turn of the twentieth century, the aim focus of
conflict centered between Germany and Austria-Hungary against Russia and France. Britain
existed as a hungry wolf gazing with its blood drawn eyes between the two alliances for
weaknesses it could exploit to enlarge its already enormously vast empire. In June of 1914, war
finally erupted after a Serbian assassin had shot the Archduke of Austria-Hungary. This meager
incident spilled out into a full blood bath as Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the
Ottoman Empire had formed the Central Powers against the alliance of Russia, France, Britain,
and later Italy and Japan in an all out war against each other. Nevertheless, the struggle between the Allies and Central Powers in Europe had formed necessary causes for America’s
involvement into WWI and resulted in everlastingly effects on the world’s forthcoming events.
Certainly, there consisted of several reasons and factors for why the United States
decided to enter WWI as one of the Allies. Firstly, the American people and government held a
strong, distinctive tie with Britain. As noted from The American Journey, “Ethnic, cultural, and
economic ties bound most Americans to the British and French” (712). Moreover, Woodrow
Wilson even felt such a vastly large affinity towards Britain that he actively sought to insure
America’s involvement into the war on Britain’s behalf. (712-716) Secondly, Britain took much
responsibility in asserting propaganda on the American people in hopes of encouraging
aggression against Germany. For instance, Britain had sliced off any attempt from Germany to
convince any sympathy from the United States. (713) Furthermore, as quoted from The
Civilization against a brutal Germany that mutilated nuns and babies” (712). Lastly, Germany’s
own activities provided more fuel to the fire of swaying America closer to war. In particular,
Germany actively sought to employ its submarines to halt further contraband and war materials
from entering Ally shores, which unfortunately led to the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915 and
the Sussex 1916. (714) Additionally, Wilson and British officials released the Zimmerman Note,
which had vastly infuriated the American people after hearing that Germany had promise
Mexico the return of its lost territories if it should ally with Germany against the United States.
(716) Conclusively, Woodrow Wilson sought to exploit on Germany’s own hostile activities and
unfortunate mistakes to pressure congress into finally issuing a declaration of war against the
Central Powers on April 6, 1917. Evidently, the Great War led to many lasting effects that would shape the future of the
world for decades to come. Mainly, the Great War resulted in many changes in the political
topography of the world. For starters, the continual hardships of the war insured the formation of
Bolshevik’s Soviet Union out of the heavy bulk from the collapsed Russian Empire. (724) In
addition, the Treaty of Versailles of 1919 that had ended the war granted the emergence new
states from the former Russian, German, and Austro-Hungarian empires to block the expanding
threat of communism and established to League of Nations in hopes of preventing future “great
wars.” (728) Subsequently, Germany had felt a devastating blow from the terms of defeat from
the Great War. Particularly, Germans in Silesia and Bohemia now lived under the rule of Poles
and Czechs rather than other Germans. Moreover, in reference to The American Journey, “It was
required to pay huge reparations to the Allies, give up lands to France, Poland, Belgium, and
Denmark, cede its colonies, limit its army and navy to small self-defense forces, destroy military
bases, and promise not to manufacture or purchase armaments” (727). Finally, the WWI
imparted everlasting effects on America’s new role in international politics. In particular,
American participation into WWI had violated the Monroe Doctrine on terms of isolation from
European Affairs, which propelled America like a can of worms into further involvement in
global affairs in throughout parts of the twentieth century. Likewise, the emergence of
Bolshevik’s USSR had unleashed the “Red Scare” or the true start of the Cold War between the
Soviets and Americans as a pandemonium of fear, anti-atheistic feelings, and racism on the
American public towards social reform and a strong case for opportunity for criminal-minded
individuals to proceed on their own agendas.
In conclusion, a number of causes had directed America’s involvement into WWI and
resulted in several lasting effects on the world’s future. Specifically, the most overwhelming cause for America’s participation in the war came from the strong ties between it and Britain that
lured individuals such as Woodrow Wilson to exploit on any activity from Germany that lured
the American people into a frenzied state. Furthermore, the war concluded with the first
international peacekeeping organization, the morally and financially crippled state of Germany, and a forever changed America.