Question

What are the 4 ways that the US must remain neutral according to Wilson at the beginning of WWI?

a) The US must refrain from providing any military assistance to either side of the conflict.
b) The US should maintain economic ties with all nations involved in the war, without favoritism.
c) The US should avoid making any statements or commitments that could be seen as taking sides in the conflict.
d) The US must prioritize diplomatic efforts to mediate peace between the warring nations.

Answer 1

President Woodrow Wilson's policy of neutrality at the beginning of WWI included maintaining commercial ties with all belligerents, advocating impartiality and fairness, and avoiding military intervention unless absolutely necessary. However, provocations like the Zimmermann telegram and the sinking of U.S. ships, along with strategic concerns over the potential victory of Germany and the Bolshevik threat, eventually shifted U.S. opinion towards supporting the Allies.

Step-by-step explanation:

At the beginning of WWI, President Woodrow Wilson was determined to keep the United States neutral for several reasons. One of the primary reasons was that the conflict was viewed as having little to do with the U.S. Additionally, there were concerns that involvement could divide the nation given its significant population of immigrants from Europe. The Americans were mostly averse to the idea of joining a war that had brought such devastation to Europe, a sentiment shared by Wilson who was concerned about his reelection prospects in the face of an unpopular military intervention.

To maintain neutrality, Wilson advocated for neutrality which involved maintaining commercial ties with all belligerents and support for open markets. Specifically, he emphasized that Americans should 'act and speak in the true spirit of neutrality', showing impartiality and fairness to all involved. The U.S. engaged in trade principally with Allied nations, largely due to practical circumstances such as Britain's naval blockade.

However, strategic concerns and provocations such as the Zimmermann telegram and the sinking of U.S. ships by German submarines gradually shifted American opinion towards supporting the Allies. Despite resistance to joining the war, the potential for Germany to prevail and the Bolshevik threat in Russia eventually compelled the U.S. to reconsider its neutral stance. Also influential was the idea that American participation could help revive the flagging spirits of the Allies and potentially curb the Bolshevik revolution in Russia.