World War I: The Allies v. Germany

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In August of 1914 when World War I first began in Europe the United States declared their neutrality in the war. The United States felt no need to get themselves involved in a war that did not greatly involve them, nor greatly concern them. Things soon however began to change in the United States. In February 1915 the German government announced that they would destroy all enemy ships within their newly declared war zone, and warned the United States that their neutral ships might be destroyed as well. As a result President Wilson warned Germany that they would be held responsible if any American lives were lost due to their actions. After Germany’s attack on a French ship, Wilson threatened to end diplomatic relations with Germany unless they stopped killing innocent people. Afraid that the United States might enter the war, German officials issued the Sussex pledge, which promised not to sink merchant vessels “without warning and without saving human lives.” Shortly after the Sussex pledge was made in mid-March of 1917, German U-boats sank three American merchant ships. On April 6th, 1917 the United States declared war on Germany. The United States entrance into the war brought a greater advantage to the Allies, leading Germany and the other two Central Powers to their defeat. According to Document 1 the Allies borrowed $10.5 billion from the United States before the U.S. even got involved in the war. The United States also made and shipped war materials to the Allies according to their specifications. In these ways the Allies were very dependent on the United States for their support. And because the United States were willing to help the Allies even before they joined the war the Allies were already at a great advantage. D... ... middle of paper ... ... in 1918. This eventually led to the Treaty of Versailles being signed by Germany on June 28, 1919. The treaty forced Germany to completely disarm its military force, and pay Allies reparations. The treaty also made it so that Germany took all of the responsibility for starting the war. Although the treaty did not follow all of President Wilson’s 14 points for world peace, it did however include some of them and agreed to establish a League of Nations. It is my soul belief that if the United States had not joined the war, that Germany would have won and eventually taken over the Allied countries. Had that happened, it might have led to Germany taking over the entire world. All in all I presume it is safe to say that it a good thing that the Allied countries had the upper hand in the war. Had the United States not joined the war, who knows how things would be today?

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