USA HISTORY

AMERICAN IMPERIALISM(1890 1919)

CAUSES OF WORLD WAR I

[SOURCES]
Initially the United States wanted to stay out of the war in Europe in 1914 because of-

(A) The need to rebuild after the civil war

(B) The high cost of transporting troops

(C) A lack of strong military support

(D) ** A foreign policy based on neutrality

EXPLANATIONS BELOW

Concept note-1: -When WWI began in Europe in 1914, many Americans wanted the United States to stay out of the conflict, supporting President Woodrow Wilson’s policy of strict and impartial neutrality. “The United States must be neutral in fact as well as in name during these days that are to try men’s souls.

Concept note-2: -When war broke out in Europe in 1914 President Wilson declared that the United States would follow a strict policy of neutrality. This was a product of a longstanding idea at the heart of American foreign policy that the United States would not entangle itself with alliances with other nations.

Concept note-3: -When war broke out in Europe, the United States immediately declared its neutrality. President Woodrow Wilson stated that America must be “impartial in thought as well as in action.” For a century, the U.S. had stayed out of European affairs. Most Americans preferred to continue this policy.

Concept note-4: -Why did the United states want to maintain its neutrality in foreign policy at the beginning of the 1790s? Because the U.S. had different views on who they support in the war and if they even want to get involved in it.

Concept note-5: -His neutral stance and lack of involvement in foreign matters have been attributed to his religious upbringing and academic background. A devout Christian, Wilson did not believe God was calling him to enter World War I, so he attempted to keep the United States out of the conflict.