Transcript

In 1914 when war broke out in Europe, the United States desperately wanted to avoid getting involved. But Americans wanted it both ways. That is, American merchants and bankers wanted to continue to trade with the European nations that were fighting one another but, at the same time, wanted to avoid being drawn into the conflict themselves. That was impossible to do.

As it happened, American trade with Great Britain and France was far greater than the trade conducted with Germany and Austria. As a result, the Germans became increasingly desperate to stop the flow of supplies and raw materials from the United States to their enemies, Great Britain and France. At the same time, of course, America was made up of people who had been born in those warring countries and they had very strong opinions about which side should win.

Over time, as trade from the United States became a crucial element in determining the balance of the war itself, the Germans made the desperate decision to begin all-out submarine warfare against the United States and its shipping interests. That, of course, let to more and more sinkings, which ultimately led to President Wilson declaring war. So, the United States did not stay out of a war that it wanted to continue to benefit from economically. Ultimately, there was bound to be conflict, as there was.

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