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Why did President Woodrow Wilson send

U.S. troops to Europe without putting them
through extensive training?

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

U.S. President Woodrow Wilson sent troops to Europe with minimal training due to the urgent need to aid the Allies in World War I. The threat to the European power balance and the necessity to act quickly meant the troops were expedited to "quiet zones" in Europe for further training. Wilson's initial stance on neutrality shifted due to international pressures, moral imperatives, and domestic considerations.

Step-by-step explanation:

President Woodrow Wilson sent U.S. troops to Europe without extensive training due to the urgent necessity of assisting the Allies and the pressure to act swiftly as the balance of power in Europe was at risk. In April 1917, with Europe deeply entrenched in conflict, Wilson committed to supporting the Allies, recognizing the need to develop a wartime mentality among Americans. Facing the German renewal of U-boat attacks and recognizing that an Allied defeat would drastically alter the European balance of power, the U.S. provided immediate aid. Crucially, in June 1917, Wilson sent 200,000 American troops to Europe. These troops were stationed in "quiet zones" to continue their training while already on European soil, balancing the need for rapid deployment against the forces of exhausted Allied troops with the necessity for some preparation.



Furthermore, international pressures and moral imperatives gradually swayed Wilson's stance, which initially focused on domestic reform and neutrality. With submarine warfare threatening American trade and lives, and the moral outrage against German tactics, the U.S. was compelled to join the war. The situation on the home front, with mixed public opinion and considerations regarding Irish and German-American populations, also influenced decision-making. By the time the U.S. entered the war, President Wilson was under significant pressure from different constituents, including businessmen and government officials, to take a decisive stance to protect American interests and support the Allies. The preparedness campaign a year prior reflected this shift by enhancing military capacities through the National Defense Act and the Naval Appropriations Act of 1916.

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