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David Herrera
World War I Essay
Ms. O'Connor
History - W/W
March 11, 2015
World War I
World War I, a universal prime war between the most powerful nations of the world, had
a great impact to the United States. The United States was neutral during World War I, but then
ended up fighting with the Allies. The United States declared war on Germany because of the
German Naval Policy, American Economic Interests, and the Idealism of Woodrow Wilson.
Although the United States wanted to remain neutral, they went out to war for worldwide
stability.
The German Naval Policy, "the practice of unrestricted submarine warfare, which
violated the freedom of the seas of the neutral United States," (BookRags "World War I Essay).
The Germans violated many pledges. They disrespected the policy that ships would not be
attacked and warned of any attack. Submarine warfare by the Germans included the sinking of
the Lusitania in 1915. The sinking angered the United States even more.
American Economic Interest, America's interest with France and Britain. The United
States had economic investments with France and Britain. They were interested because if any of
them lost, they would get into debt and won't be able to pay America back. Britain and France
were purchasing naval arms with American money. America wanted their money back. United
States trade increased from 825 million to 3.2 billion and large corporations gained profits by
trading. "The United States government also attempted to guide economic activity via centralized
price and production controls," (The Economics of World War I, 5).

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The Idealism of Woodrow Wilson, make the world safe for democracy, was summarized
in a Fourteen Points speech. the first five are: "1st, No more secret agreements. 2nd, Free
navigation of all seas. 3rd, An end to all economic barriers between countries. 4th, Countries to
reduce weapon numbers. 5th, All decisions regarding the colonies should be impartial, "
(Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points). Wilson saw World War I and the end of all wars. The
Fourteen Points were for a peace movement and it was on the back of the Fourteen Points that
Germany and her allies agreed to an armistice in November 1918.
In Conclusion, World War I, a universal prime war between the most powerful nations of
the world, had a great impact to the United States. The German Naval Policy was the most
important policy because it was the "spark" for the United States going to war. America had a
great interest in France and Britain. United States trade increased from 825 million to 3.2 billion
and large corporations gained profits by trading.

WORK CITED
The Americans. Reconstruction to the 21st Century. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell, 2007. Print.

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"World War I Essay | World War I German Naval Policies." BookRags. BookRags, n.d. Web. 11
Mar.2015. <http://www.bookrags.com/essay-2005/5/29/232958/268/#gsc.tab=0>.
"The Economics of World War I." The Economics of World War I. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.nber.org/digest/jan05/w10580.html>.