The US entering WW1 was justified, although some of the actions it took in the war weren't, US involvement ultimately saved innocent lives in other countries.
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Britain agreed to protect the neutrality of Belgium in Article 7 of the Treaty of London.
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Obligated Germany to aid Austria-Hungary of Russia attacked or mobilized.
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France and Russia agreed to provide aid both ways in the event of an attack.
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In 1897, American investments in private foreign markets amounted to $700 million dollars, which would equal $3.5 billion dollars today. Because it was in America's financial interest to aid the Triple Entente, this pushed the US more to their side.
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Because America's financial interest aligned closely with the victory of Great Britain, this served as a reason for America to support the Triple Entente and would eventually help cause the US to enter the war in 1917.
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The NAACP first gained recognition fighting for Civil Rights in the early 1900s. Along with some other organizations, they led the onslaught against discrimination and segregation in the US, Documented mistreatment of African Americans in the military, and confronted racial inequities in the legal system, including pursuing voting rights and dismantling segregation in the courts. (Date was found on NAACP.org).
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Serbians assassinated the heir to the Austro-Hungarian empire. As a result, it delivered an ultimatum to the Kingdom of Serbia, which was trying to provoke a nationalistic movement, that all people involved in the assassination of the heir/Archduke Franz Ferdinand needed to accept full responsibility. A few weeks later, the Austrians declares war on Serbia on July 28th.
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As a result of Russia mobilizing to aid Serbia, Germany, which had been militarizing faster than any other country, quickly declares war.
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Because of the Franco-Russian treaty, in which France and Russia agreed to aid each other, Germany declares war on France days after it declared war on Germany
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Because Germany passed through Belgium to attack France, Britain declared war on them as a violation of the Treaty of London.
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President Wilson believed that the United States should be neutral in WW1. According to him, although it was natural that the diverse American citizens support one nation or another, divisions due to conflict of interest would stand in the way of the USA’s peace and role as mediator.
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Wanting to keep neutral and act as a nation of peace, President Wilson decided not to enter the war in 1914 to preserve peace and diversity in America.
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Although America was neutral in the war, they still traded with superpowers, mainly Great Britain, which served to fuel American financial gain and its economy. Also occurring at the time, Germany reversed its policy on submarine warfare, vowing to destroy all merchant vessels traveling to Allied ports, armed or not. Because of this, the Lusitania, a ship that carried 4.2 million rounds of ammunition was shot and destroyed by a German Submarine, killing 1,198 passengers, including 128 Americans.
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Thousands of women formed and/or joined organizations to bring relief to war-torn countries in Europe, even before America officially entered the war. In 1916, the Navy was the first branch to allow women to join the military because it discovered there was no reference to gender in enlistment codes, only 'persons'. (Date found on archives.gov)
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Germany announced that it would sink all merchant vessels, armed or not, on sight, believing that it could defeat the allies before the US entered the war. This caused President Wilson to break off diplomatic relations with Germany.
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Due to Germany reversing its submarine warfare, the US cut off all political contact with Germany, hoping to send the message to the Triple Entente that America disapproved of Germany's actions and had no association with them.
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Written a few weeks after Germany reversed its policy on submarine warfare by German Foreign Secretary, Arthur Zimmerman, Germany requested an alliance with Mexico if the US joined the war. In return for fighting, Mexico would receive financial compensation and would be able to gain back territory that was lost to the US in treaties.
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Newspapers published the secret telegram. This, along with the sinking of the Lusitania sparked outrage in the US, increasing its reasons to go to war.
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Although political stance and economic goals did play a large part in America's decision to enter the war, The sinking of the Lusitania, which at that time was painted as having innocent cargo by the American and British governments, and the Zimmerman Telegram, that stated that if Mexico allied with Germany, they could reclaim lost territory in parts of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, also outraged Americans and persuaded them to go to war.
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On April 2nd, President Wilson declared war on Germany, claiming that the US had to preserve democracy. He also reasoned that German Submarine warfare on commerce was a warfare against mankind, pointing out that American lives had already been taken because of Germany's attacks.
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Liberty Bonds, which called for people to donate $25 dollars for the war effort, raised billions of dollars for war. In turn, the government promised to pay back the loans 10 years later. However, these bonds pushed the government into debt, and if people were paid at all, they were either paid less money or had their bonds extended.
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When the US engaged in WW1, it was in desperate need of soldiers. To combat this, all men between the ages of 18 and 45 were required to sign up for the 1rst draft since the Civil War. Anyone who was selected would have to join the army or would go to jail. In the end, around 2.8 million names were chosen, most of which were unexperienced in fighting and only received a month of training before being sent to Europe. (Date found on archivesfoundation.org).
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In order to get more people to support the war and help on the Homefront, different types of propaganda were distributed across the country. Some Implored people to conserve meat, wheat, fats, sugar, coal, and other resources that could be used in the war, whereas others painted the Central Powers, especially Germany, as monsters and asking people to join the military.. (Date found on History.com)
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In wake of America entering the war, America was severely unprepared for fighting and maintaining a large army. To aid this, posters were made, imploring people to conserve resources and goods needed in the war, to grow their own food, and join different branches of the military.
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During the US draft, many Americans protested, refusing to sign up and telling others not to as well. Worried that this would effect the size, power, and morale of the US army, the government made it illegal to avoid or interfere with the draft. People who broke this law faced up to 20 years in jail and a $10,000 fine.
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This Board regulated the production of goods and resources needed for the war, and could set the price for these items. They made it so no one could charge unfairly high prices on materials needed in the war, which was good for the people and government. However, many businesses were forced to sell goods at a lower price than they wanted too, which reduced profit. (Date according to Google).
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The War ends the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918.
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Charles Schenk, who had been arrested people for criticizing the draft and violating the Sedition Act along with 1,500 other people, appealed to the Supreme Court, claiming that the Espionage Act violated his 1rst Amendment right freedom of speech. The Court declared, however, that during war, free speech that threatened the war effort could be limited.
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14 points, created by the Allied Powers that listed the punishments for Germany. This included the reduction of German armaments and reparations for the war. This effectively brought an end to WW1. (Date taken from Britannica.com).