United States Neutrality in Wwi

When World War I broke out in Europe, Woodrow Wilson announced that the United States would stay out of European affairs and remain neutral. He issued a declaration of US neutrality and called upon the American people to support his policy by not taking sides. He hoped that the United States would remain neutral and continue to trade with warring nations. The United States hoped to stay out of the way because there was no reason for the U.S. to intervene with European affairs. Also, Wilson was aware of the huge immigrant populations whom have came from those nations currently at war. By 1915, America was linked economically to the Allies. Wilson's desire to remain impartial was dwindling as America drew closer and closer to Britain and France.

In his August 19, 1914 message to the Senate, Wilson voiced his belief that America should stand ready to be impartial and peaceful. “Every man who really loves America will act and speak in the true spirit of neutrality, which is the spirit of impartiality and fairness and friendliness to all concerned…The United States must be neutral in fact,...We must be impartial in thought, as well as action.”# The United States and its people were supposed to remain as a contented neutral country by holding strongly to the tradition of Washington and Jefferson of not allying itself with any European nation involved with a war in Europe.

Britain was the first to declare a naval blockade against Germany by mining and seizing ships attempting to run the blockade. This also meant that US ships were being seized. President Wilson declared the British seizure of American ships as a violation of the rights of a neutral nation’s freedom of the seas but Britain continued to force American ships to be searched for food, medical supplies, and steel before reaching Germany. Although the United States was against the blockade, it had very little impact on the U.S. economy as England paid for lost cargo. Also, with England going to war, the United States were beginning to produce war-related exports to pull them out of its prewar recession. Although Wilson claimed neutrality, he and many other Americans had sympathy toward Britain as the Americans shared language and culture to the English. Wilson did not do much in response to Britain’s violation of American neutrality.

In retaliation, Germany violated the international warfare law by attacking with submarines without warning.