American Entry / War Outcome

[reganbrownbridge]

[glow=red,2,300][/glow] It seems kinda silly that the Americans joined the largest war in history (at that point in history) because a ship, the lusitania, was sank by u-boats and because of an intercepted German message to the Mexicans. I believe that these events enabled the U.S. to change public opionion, from one favoring the Germans to one agaisnt the Germans. They simply used the events of the lusitanian and zimmerman report as propaganda to get their people rowled up for war. I believe, in reality, the Americans had economic or hidden intentions. For example they knew that by joining the war (and in this case the British side because it would be an easier victory) they would come out of it as a stronger economic country and they would take the role as political "peace keeper" of the world. If they Americans had not joined the war, could Germany had won?

[Mr. Delainey]

I think you're right when it comes to America reaping some benefit from the war. A weakened Germany is one that doesn't compete economically with America. Germany would have been America's chief competitor from Europe for sure in terms of industrial output (if we look at something steel production for instance).

If America had remained neutral and not joined, there are those historians who think the Great War would have ended in a stalemate; that is, all the parties to war would have been exhausted by 1917 (maybe as late as 1919). But the war would've ended in a draw.

When the Americans joined the side of the French/English the scales were tipped in the favour of the Triple Entente. Prior to the American involvement the war was going equally bad for both sides.