Laia Mart Garca History and culture of the United States

04/05/2017

AMERICAS ISOLATION

To understand Americans isolation policy, it is necessary analyze the main reason for
the United States involvement in both World War I & II. Also, a brief explanation of the
principal consequences of the U.S involvement in the Great War and World War II.
America remained neutral towards the events destroying Europe and eventually get
involved in the conflict due to aggressions acts. Those acts came from totalitarian
governments (Germany and Japan respectively) that meant a threat for the precarious
balance of power in Europe (Tindall and Shy, 2013: 1020), as well as for U.S security.

Before the declaration of United States of war against Germany Empire and his allies, the
American government under Wilsons leadership, declared Americas neutrality in the
conflict. Also, the proclamation act allowed to extend credit to the Allies to purchase
food and military supplies (Tindall and Shy, 2013: 1202). However, after the massacre
of Americans civilians due to Germanys use of submarine warfare, the public opinion
support to the Allied Powers and the outstanding Zimmermann telegram, the situation
changed. Therefore, Americas isolation policy led by President Woodrow Wilsons was
abandoned and America declared war against Central Powers nations.

As a result, the entrance of U.S in the Great War supposed a significant impact on the
battle over Europes control. At the end, the America government and the Allied Powers
were victorious and stop German domination over Europe. Not only America helped to
defeat the enemies of the Triple Entente, but also the fall of Central Powers Empire, the
establishment of new countries in Europe and the formation of the intergovernmental
organization League of Nations.

Twenty-five years after the most destructive event occurred in Europe to date, Axis
powers started a second global war. Meanwhile dictatorship nations as Germany (once
again rearmed in disobedience of the Treaty of Versailles) and Italy aimed to obtain more
power in Europe, the Empire of Japan wanted to spread and dominate the Asian continent.
As befell previously, a direct attack of the Japanese Army to America propeller the ending

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of U.S neutrality period and alliance with the Allies leaders of WWII. Moreover, the
trigger of Americas decision to participate was the devastating blitz ordered by the
Japanese Empire, including the United Stated Pacific Fleet (USPACFLT) destruction at
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Furthermore, it is important highlight the victory of the Allied and the consequences for
the world order. The most important were the defeat of Nazi Germany and their dictatorial
control over Europe and the dissolution of Italian and Japanese Empires. Besides, the
establishment of the United Nations, the emergence of U.S as a superpower and the
beginning of the geopolitical tensions in the Cold War.

As a conclusion, the primary motivation to join the war in both World Wars is connected
to direct attacks. Even though the similarities between the decisive factors involving
Americas participation in WWI and WWII, it is remarkable the differences related to the
consequences of both conflicts. One the one hand, Americas interest was to fight against
despotism and for the protection of democratic institutions and ethic values. On the other
hand, it was a strategical movement with the purpose of preventing external conflicts
influence in American territory.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Office of the Historian, Bureau of Public Affairs,
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1914-1920/wwi/ (Accessed 21 April 2017)
- Taylor, Samantha Alisha, "A Comparative Study of America's Entries into World
War I and World War II." (2009). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper
1860. http://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1860
- The National WWII Museum : New Orleans,
http://www.nationalww2museum.org/learn/education/for-students/ww2-
history/america-goes-to-war.html?referrer=https://www.google.es/ (Accessed 15
April 2017)
- Tindall, George Brown., and David E. Shi. America: a narrative history. 9th ed.
New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2013. Print.