World War II :: World War 2 Two

solid ground War 11When the World War I broke out in 1914, with Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia. Americas first reaction was to stay out to conflict. chairwoman Wilson, in his speech to the Congress on August 19, 1914 said every man who really loves America will act and speak in the true spirit of sluggishity. The United States must be neutral in fact as well as in name during these geezerhood that are to try mens souls. We must be frank in thought as well as in action. every(prenominal) American leaders favored neutrality. While the entire European classical was divided into two camps Germany, Austria, Hungary and Turkey as Central Powers were pitted against the ally powers Serbia, Britain, France, Belgium, Italy and Russia. As the war progressed, American public sympathies veered to the Allied side. Under the leaders of J.P. Morgan and Company many banking firms gave huge loans to the Allied powers.By international rules the neutral country could mickle with any othe r neutral nation and similarly with other belligerent countries non facing a end. The Americans wished to continue trade with both belligerent sides.In the initial stages of the war the British blockade of Germany created problems for the U.S. The British tried to stop all trade between Germany and the succour of the world. They extended their blockade by controlling imports to other neutral countries handle Holland, Denmark and Sweden with are geographically close to Germany The Americans protested against the violation of neutral rights though Wilson never put undue pressure on England as no U.S. citizen scattered his life due to the blockade. Moreover, all cargo seized was paid for at war. It was the German use of submarines in the war that brought the U.S. in direct confrontation with Germany. The German submarines fired indiscriminately at neutral ships too. The last straw was when the British passenger liner Lusitania was sunk by German submarines on whitethorn 7. It res ulted in the loss of 1,200 lives which included 128 Americans. The American public was outraged.President Wilson forthwith demanded compensation from Germany in a series of notes to Berlin. The tone of these notes was very snappy and harsh. Ten months after the incident, Germany apologized for the sinking and offered a compensation for the loss. But the U.S. was not satisfied. Wilson wanted to make Germany stop the use of submarines in the war.