WWI: Big Question

1. Why did the US get involved in WWI?

On May 7, 1915 Germany sunk a British passenger liner named Lusitania believing it was carrying munitions. It happened to be carrying both munitions and passenger and 1,198 people died, 128 of them being Americans which started tensions between the two countries. However It was not until 1917 that Wilson finally proposed joining the war believing it could be a vehicle to construct a new world order based on American Ideals.

2. What major events had shapes its readiness to participate in global issues?

The sinking of the Lusitania by the Germans, and a similar incident with a French ship named the Sussex caused tensions to grow between America and Germany.  In an intercepted telegram Germany proposed allying with Mexico to help regain their land if they went to war the US. While America had wanted to go to war Wilson prolonged America's entry until 1917.

3. How had it become prepared to participate in modern warfare overseas?

Wilson proposed a rapid expansion of the US armed forces, and had proposed a post-war order where the US would maintain peace alongside a league of nations,

4. What aspects of US involvement were the subject of debate?

The United States involvement in the war was heavily questioned by pacifists, whose pleas were heard less and less as tensions between the US and Germany began to grow.

5. For the US, what was involvement in WWI like?

The United States involvement in WWI was brief, but had a huge effect on the country. The US gained a spot on the world stage, and was able to make some of its demands reality.

6. How was the US affected by its participation in WWI?

The United States government had to have a hand in industry, agriculture, and other areas due to how taxing the war was on the economy. The economy did go through a period of economic due to all the industrial work being done, and the war caused "The Great Migration" of African Americans from the South into the North for industrial jobs. The war cost the US 32 Billion dollars, and because of how great the expenses were the US had to rely on loans from the American People or "liberty bonds" and additional taxes were introduced to help fund the war.