So in my Apush class this week, we discussed America's involvement. The main points we discussed were 1) how during Americas neutral phase in 1914-1918 many states originally, if they did want war, sided with the central powers because of their heavy immigrant population, and anger at Britain for the Ireland stuff and the insane blockades they were making (even though their trade with us increased around 300%) and 2) eventually, our involvement did turn the tide of the war because it looked like, since Germany was now fighting on one front, britain and France were in a stalemate that they probably weren't going to win, but possibly could've and 3) that many US ships had been sunken by germany, but america did not care that badly until the lusitania which our teacher said it has never been full confirmed if it had munitions or not.That was my history class. Then I was the crash course Apush video (#30) and john green immediately pokes fun at how the US didn't do anything, and that from the beginning of our neutral stance, we supported Britain because we got over our past gripes, I didn't watch the whole video because I got kind of annoyed at the contradicting information and didn't want have both facts rolling around in my head, so can anyone clear up as FACTUALLY as that can which points are accurate and which are more biased?
You're probably confused because the situation in America was confused. I've been posting newspapers daily from 1914 and 1915 in /r/100yearsago, and it's been fascinating to follow the ebb and flow of public opinion.
At the start of the war, you get the impression that the United States is leaning toward Britain, France, and in particular Belgium. Something that gets glossed over is the situation of Belgium. In the first year and a half of the war, there's an immense wave of sympathy for the Belgians, who are widely seen as caught in the middle of the fighting.
There are relief fundraisers from Alaska to Florida, from Newfoundland to Hawaii and beyond. As the "intrepid Belgians" or "plucky Belgians" fight on, there's a great deal of sympathy for their plight. Since they're fighting the Germans, the Germans naturally become the enemy.
Now, this is only one point in the public relations campaign. In 1915 and 1916, you'll see all kinds of "atrocities" reported by the British press as happening in Belgium. Postwar studies find little evidence of these atrocities, but at the time they're spread across the United States and do a great deal to stir anti-German sentiment.
There's sympathy among German-Americans and Austrian-Americans for the Central Powers, sure, but there's sympathy among French-Americans and English-Americans and Montenegrin-Americans, and all the rest for the Entente.
In 1914 and 1915, sympathy is generated for the German cause by the blockade of Germany. There are plenty of people in the United States during this time who take a dim view of the British blockade. The thought goes that as a neutral nation, the United States should have the right to ship what it wants to whomever it wants. That British and French warships were seizing American freighters to enforce the blockade didn't help matters.
Wilson sent stern notices to the British government over the halting of trade, something that tends to be glossed over in light of later events.
The British blockade, extended to foodstuffs in spring 1915 directly led to Germany opening unrestricted submarine warfare against Britain in response -- a counterblockade in response to the British blockade. Ironically, British ships -- including the Lusitania (which was carrying munitions) -- began flying the American flag in an attempt to ward off attacks by German submarines. This made the needle move back toward the German favor a bit, but not by much.
Then, once the Lusitania is sunk in May 1915, all bets are off. The United States is firmly leaning toward the Entente, and as the British propaganda campaign accelerates, the United States is fertile ground for stories about German atrocities. German saboteurs are captured in the United States, there are what we would call terrorist attacks on American targets and then, in 1917, when Germany returns to unrestricted submarine warfare, that's the last straw for many in the United States. Remember, America is interested in free trade first and foremost, and Germany was threatening that.