Why didn't the US want to get involved in World War 1?

Answer 1

The US had no reason to enter the war prior to 1917. No American interests were at stake, and the country was doing very well from trade with the Allies, leading to great prosperity. There was some distress at American passengers on allied ships (eg the Lusitania) being killed when these ships were torpedoed, but most Americans did not regard this as a justification for war, since nobody had compelled the Americans to take the risk of using belligerant ships. The position changed after January 1917, when Germany declared unrestricted U-boat warfare, and began sinking all ships in allied waters, including American ones. After three American ships had been torpedoed, and it was revealed that Germany had sought alliance with Mexico against the US, opinion moved rapidly in favour of war.

Answer 2

When World War I began, many Americans were reluctant to join the war to avoid involvement in Europe's "petty squabbles" (as it saw them), and didn't feel that it was a threat to the US. They did send Britain essential war materials to help them during earlier parts of the war. The First World War saw a continuation of America's Isolationist policy, as the people of America didn't want to become involved in foreign affairs which didn't concern them. America did join the war, however, after Germany sank the Lusitania, killing 128 American citizens. They only entered the war for the last year though, and if they had come in sooner , the war might have ended much earlier.

The US kept out of World War II for similar reasons, but again was compelled to fight.

Answer 3

The united states until after WW2 had An isolationist view of the world meaning that they only wanted to handle their own business and not get involved in other countries affairs if they felt that it wasn't an immediate threat to their own security for further info just look up WW1 on Wikipedia or u.s. history not like its hard to find or anything

Answer 4

Because American's are traditionally isolationist, and because it wasn't our fight. We entered the war late when it became apparent that to the victor goes the spoil. It was post WWI than America began to transition from a regional power to a global power.

Answer 5

It practiced isolationism, it didn't want to get involved in foreign affairs. Also, it didn't want to lose people in a war that didn't really threaten them. But they did enter the war when Germany attacked a U.S. cruise ship.

Answer 6

The United States did not wish to go to war against Germany for many reasons.

The United States was the Greatest Neutral Power at the time, and many in America thought the Great War to be an European war that the United States should never get involved in.

There were many German Americans who were sympathetic with Germany. There was also a large contingent of Irish Americans who despised England. Though our time-honored friendship with France was a significant factor.

History at this time (c. 1915) that was taught in America covered two principle oversea wars: The War of 1812 and, before that, the Revolutionary War. Accounts of these wars in history text books at public school embellished upon the evils of the English and the Heroics of American Patriots.

To go to war on the side of our natural born foe was unheard of.

Only after a vicious slandering Propaganda campaign were they able to play up German naval indiscretions, while giving the free pass to England to starve out over 600,000 non-combatant German people.

President Woodrow Wilson and Colonel E. M. House decided that Germany could not be allowed to win the war. Had they had peace, Germany, believed to be the Aggressor, would indisputably be the Victor. Wilson could not let that come to pass and he chose an Overseas Intervention to try to force his hand at the peace talks.

Sources: Woodrow Wilson State Papers, Personal Correspondences of Colonel E.M. House, War Memoirs of Robert Lansing

Answer 7

American joined WW1 in 1917, they were involved

Answer 8

The us was reluctant to enter World War 1 simply because they wanted to remain neutral. They wanted to remain neutral so that innocent lives were not wasted in bombings by the Axis Powers.