(A) Wilson Proclaims Neutrality
(B) ** British Blockade and German U-Boat Blockade
(C) Sinking of the Lusitania
EXPLANATIONS BELOW
Concept note-1: -The German Board of Public Health in December 1918 claimed that 763, 000 German civilians died from starvation and disease caused by the blockade through December 1918. The blockade also had a detrimental effect on the U.S. economy and the U.S. government protested the blockade vigorously.
Concept note-2: -Apart from leading to shortages in vital raw materials such as coal and nonferrous metals, the blockade also deprived Germany of supplies of fertiliser that were vital to agriculture.
Concept note-3: -A wish to retaliate and to break Britain’s command of the seas motivated Germany to launch its campaign of unrestricted submarine warfare in 1917. The result was to make the blockade even more complete, by provoking the United States to join the Allies.
Concept note-4: -Aside from causing shortages in important raw materials such as coal and various non-ferrous metals, the blockade cut off fertiliser supplies that were vital to German agriculture.