USA in the First World War: historical facts

Already at the beginning of the twentieth century, the United States was an industrial power that could compete with any European eraser. The First World War was supported by America much later than all the allies, yet it allowed it to derive the greatest benefits from this situation. The United States in the First World War behaved more cleverly than Odysseus. It would be reasonable to note that this practice was adopted by them and with some variations is used even now.

The Cunning of Everyone

In July 1918, July and August in part, found German and French-Anglo-American troops fighting bloodily by the river Marne. The general offensive of German troops was the last since the battle proved to be a failure for them and led to a final defeat. It was then that the US troops took part in this war for the first time. Before that, there was only economic support, not without a certain benefit for themselves. The United States in the First World War even overcame the world crisis, which got the most prosperous of the countries. It should be noted that in 1913, the industrial production of the United States outstripped the rest of the world, there was much more steel, cast iron, more successful extraction of minerals.

If you compare the parameters of the countries of Europe and the United States, then France, England and Germany combined did not extract as much coal. The United States in the First World War sharply increased its economic activity. The Entente was at war, so she had to face certain difficulties. The US, in cooperation with other allies, was able to double production. Here it should be noted that it was with their easy hand that the mass extermination of people, which had never been before, began: America supplied its allies with chemical and explosives, thus rapidly enriching itself. But to enter own forces of the USA in the First World War did not hasten.

Feast of the winners

So, to military exploits, the United States preferred a judicial role ("moral judge", according to President Wilson). However, when the denouement became clear, Washington became alarmed. Suddenly it will happen that the peace treaty will be concluded, and on the "feast of the winners" they will not have a place. Only in 1917 the decision was made, and finally the United States entered the First World War. This slightly extinguished the anti-American sentiment among the Allies. Eighty-five thousand US military entered the battle on the Marne. The death waited half of them. Allies, I must say, have lost millions by this moment. The goals that pursued the United States' entry into the First World War are clear.

According to the historian Andrei Malov, the Americans traded very actively with all the belligerent countries, receiving dividends, raising the class of industry, reducing unemployment. And we managed to enter the war when it was time to share the pie. They managed to participate in this sharing too. There was a redivision of the world, further improving the results of the First World War for the United States. After the conclusion of peace, the United States took the most interested part in the creation of the League of Nations, in the liberation of Belgium, in returning to the hands of France Lorraine and Alsace, in the expansion of the territory of Serbia to the sea, in the restoration of Poland. Did they worry about the welfare of other countries? No, hardly.

"Teaching" democracy by any means

The US firmly took up the entire device of the dilapidated world. Economic policy during the warfare concentrated more than forty percent of all the world's gold reserves in the banks of the United States, and foreign states owed them twelve billion dollars - at that time the amount was simply colossal. Wilson and his successors have drawn up a plan that has greatly outlived the creators, moreover, it still works. The neo-conservatives after Roosevelt formulated the results of the First World War for the United States: "We are a model of democracy and must educate all other peoples by any means." Already after 1918, the largest countries in Europe owed the United States two generations in advance.

What is happening now? The whole world owes them, and it will not be possible to pay off their debts until the very last days of the life of mankind. The United States during the First World War created a good reserve. Immediately after her graduation, the whole of Europe was flooded with American tourists, who learned to use the difference in the exchange rate. Young Europeans were terribly jealous until the American way of life became the object of blind imitation: technological progress with its poisoned fruits, advertising and gloss. The USSR became the last on this path, exchanging freedom for the "Snickers". After all, freedom is not in the accessibility of the shameful is, but in equal rights to housing, education, work, leisure. It is easy for a lender to become not only a trendsetter and a mood-maker, but also a dictator of the aspects of the political economy that he needs. Global hegemony. Russia and the United States in the First World War played diametrically opposite roles, and then their fate divorced in two completely different ways - before confrontation.

The League of nations

Since 1914, the US has conducted diplomatic maneuvers in zakul'sie, creating and playing all sorts of dramatic collisions, maintaining a neutral status. And only in March 1917 (April 6, according to a new style) Washington realized the impossibility of further maneuvering. When the US entered the First World War, President Wilson clearly calculated the situation: it was possible to deal a powerful blow to the pre-war order, where the United States played a secondary, marginal role in the world practice of international relations. Nevertheless, they were not formally attached to the Entente, but remained its associate member. Thus, it was possible to preserve freedom from mutual obligations, purely allied, which significantly expanded in wartime. But to be free in terms of annexations and territorial reorganizations to the United States is absolutely unprofitable, that's why the United States entered the First World War.

The Entente, however, constantly felt the ever-growing need for help from the Americans. And not only with finance and armament, but also with troops. Wilson proclaimed the US goals in this war, which fundamentally contradicted the European concept of balancing forces even at the cost of losing peoples the right to self-determination. Great powers, as they believed in the United States, are constantly violating the principle of self-determination, so the world order will not be sustainable. That is why Wilson proposed the creation of a new, permanent international body that is called upon to observe collective security and ensure a fair resolution of all international disputes. The basis for the work of the League of Nations being created was a set of generally agreed principles, among which the self-determination of nations was present. So, the role of the USA in the First World War became dominant, despite the very late entry into it.

London, Paris, Moscow

In planning the creation of the League of Nations, Wilson urged the Allies that the first such organization is universal and will be able to maintain both the safety of sea routes for unrestricted use by any countries of the world and prevent any wars started with violation of contractual obligations. Subordination of all global issues to a unified public opinion of the world. Paris and London considered the tasks set by Wilson, far from reality and too largely abstract. In short, the enthusiasm of neither David Lloyd George, nor Georges Clemenceau, this proposal initially did not cause. The problems in Europe were much more urgent: the military efforts did not increase, because the United States maintained neutrality, in the rear of the case it was bad: strikes, pacifists, and even the Vatican became a mediator between the belligerent countries. So it was possible to lose the war.

Regarding Russia, too, not everything was smooth. Attempts to reconsider specific conditions in the future peace treaty have already happened, and Russia's interests have been severely affected both in Europe and in the Middle East. Then the Provisional Government and exchanged diplomatic missions with the US, trying to get military and economic assistance plus foreign economic benefits. In Russia, then, too, everything was bad: the crisis is not only economic, but also political, the complete collapse of the army and the commissioned front. Ally Russia has become extremely unreliable. The Entente took control of the situation: it supervised sea shipping England, contributed to the combat capability of Russian troops France, the United States engaged in rail transport. At the beginning of November 1917, the Provisional Government still saw the bright future of its government and demonstrated the desire for war to the brink of victory. But the seventh of November, according to a new style with its own brand: "Which are temporary? Slaz!" - it has come.

Neutrality

From 1914 until 1917 the United States in all showed sympathy for the countries of Western Europe, but neutrality was preserved, this desire dominated. Wilson showed that he was shocked by the destructiveness of the nature of the ensuing conflict, tried to mediate, seeking peace without anyone's victory. This did not succeed. Maybe because the armament of the Entente countries from America came in accordance with the schedule, and this weapon was the first time in the history of mankind of mass destruction. Great Britain always controlled the World Ocean, and the US did not like it, disputes over the right to sea of neutral countries never died down.

Germany with ships blocked in its ports, by all means tried to escape from the siege. So a new weapon was born - submarines. Now neutral, peacefully trading countries have lost the security of walking on the seas. In 1915, the Germans sank an English ship with passengers - "Lusitania" went to the bottom, taking more than a hundred American citizens with them. Wilson tried to put Germany in a kind, arguing his claims with the laws of international law. Germany did not allow itself to be persuaded until 1917 and the submarine war did not stop. Then she agreed. However, the agreements did not comply, having siped a few large American ships in a couple of months. And on April 6, 1917, the US Congress declared war on Germany.

Save face

Wilson, having failed as a peacemaker and mediator, did not reach peace. The US goals in the First World War initially concerned purely economics while maintaining neutrality. But it did not work out that way. It was necessary to make a military contribution to this victory over Germany. New goals, determined and gradually rising full-length before entering the war, concerned the creation of the League of Nations and gaining control over Europe and the world. After Germany stepped up the submarine war, the United States immediately enlarged the naval and economic assistance to their opponents and began preparations for an expedition to the Western Front as part of the combat units.

General Pershing, appointed commander-in-chief, announced an appeal to the army, and about a million men from twenty-one to thirty-one put on khaki. From the very beginning of March 1918, the Allied forces tried to restrain the enemy offensive. The Germans were advancing powerfully, the British and the French were greatly exsanguinated. That is why the fresh US army greatly succeeded in helping the Allies, both in the counteroffensive, and in the ensuing defeat of the German troops. Americans rebuilt the whole system of economy under this war. The measures were truly unprecedented. Such a state control of the country's economy did not yet know.

Federal control

In the organization of rear services, Wilson passed laws extremely effective. A special railway administration was created, which ended the competition and ensured strict coordination of all activities. And the military-industrial management was given broad powers for control over enterprises, which stimulated production and prevented duplication. Prices for wheat have become fixed, and at a very high level. They introduced "non-wheat" and "bezmisnye" days for the population to increase army supplies. Fuel resources were also rigidly fixed, their distribution and production were under constant control.

These were excellent measures not only to strengthen the army and military power. They brought good benefits to farmers and industrial workers, that is, to the poor. The American military machine developed and strengthened. In addition, the United States gave huge loans to the Allies. Above is said about the size of the external debt of European countries to the creditor. Bonds of the Loan of Freedom were issued, thanks to which the country managed to withstand such large expenses. The United States in the First, Second World Wars found a way through the world's troubles to their own enrichment.

Fourteen points

This was the name of the declaration of 1918, which Wilson presented to Congress about the First World War and the US goals in it. In it, he outlined a program to restore stability in the world and called for the creation of the League of Nations. Of course, it ran counter to the military objectives that the Entente countries approved, and also contradicted many secret treaties between the Allied countries. But this step became very effective.

Already in October 1918, the countries of Central Europe offered the world directly to Wilson, ignoring their European adversaries. A mission headed by House headed from the USA to Europe. In November, Germany signed an agreement. All this shows how contradictory the positions of America and Europe were. The economic component of the life of the old and finally disintegrated Europe did not promise an early stabilization and restoration, and the United States significantly strengthened its economy during the First World War. Plus they did without destruction. This country has never waged war on its territory.

Peace

In 1919 and 1920 there were endless peace negotiations. Wilson completely subordinated their entire course to the creation of the League of Nations. To achieve this goal, he was forced to make a number of compromises: from indemnities to territorial issues.

At the end of June 1919, a treaty was signed, which culminated in the political career of Wilson. Not everything went smoothly. Republicans won the elections in 1918, and therefore a powerful movement was organized against the League of Nations, which had not yet been created.

The first decision in her favor was blocked, ratification was under threat. The Senate wanted changes in the treaty, Wilson resisted until July 1921. So, formally until this moment, the US was still at war. The "Red Menace" forced compromises, and then only Congress passed a resolution of both chambers, in which it was announced that it had completed its participation in the war. The US position after World War I was strengthened economically, but the political crisis was ripe. And because the League of Nations began its work without the participation of the United States.