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Discuss the impact of the Lusitania sinking. Did it help pave the way for America’s entry into the war? or How important was the American Expeditionary Force’s role in winning WWI against the Germans. Would the Allies have won anyway without American involvement, or was the US role critical? or Would you describe the Paris Peace Conference (1919) and the resulting Treaty of Versailles as a failure or success? Why? Sinking helps prepare us for war without directly thrusting the country into war.
It’s the early 1900, and American interests have become further entwined with that of the rest of the world as international trade increases. Then in 1914, Europe is thrust into war, and as our trading partners battle each other America begins to suffer from the economic fallout due to reduction in trade. Then in 1915 an economic opportunity presents itself as the warring parties need for food and military supplies quickly turns the economic tide in America. While America is a neutral party in the war the support for the allies was obvious as loans disproportionately larger to the allied powers than the central powers.
This increase in trading would lead America to work to maintain the tradition of the “freedom of the seas”. As supplies are vital to the success of any army the British declare the North Sea a war zone and initiate a blockade to stop supplies from reaching Germany. Germany responded by declaring the waters around Britain a war zone and threatens to sink any enemy ship that enters those waters. Due to the British blockade the only ships that patrol this new war zone were submarines.
America is not pleased with Germany’s decision calling it a violation of neutral rights, and warns Germany they will be held strictly accountable for any lost American lives or property. On May 7, 1915 that warning would be put to the test with the sinking of passenger ship Lusitania. The sinking of the Lusitania results in the loss of 128 American lives. While the desire for neutrality is still strong, an outraged American public and a need to enforce the previous warning of strict accountability; the American government would call for reparations for the victims’ families, and an abandonment of unrestricted submarine warfare.
The sinking of the Lusitania once again opens the eyes of the country to the need for stronger navy and army. This being said the sinking of the Lusitania did not thrust America into war. Instead it unintentionally helped prepare America for war thus paving the way for America to eventually enter into the war two years later, after German submarines sink five American merchant vessels. Without the sinking of the Lusitania it is hard to say if the military expansion needed for America to enter the war would ever take place.