1

Ohtake

Kiera Ohtake

Intro to Int. Relations 003 1207

Realism and the US’s Entry into the First World War

War has taken place since the dawn of humankind. From small scale battles between

neighboring nations, to regional feuds, to full scale global conflicts we are all too familiar with

the concept of War. Like many moments in history, we as a society have remembered specific

wars and battles, choosing to not only see them as the tragedies they are but use them as an

example and learning tool to better understand and predict what will come of international

relations. One of the main pillars of international relations is the concept of realism, the idea that

states and individual leaders/ politicians are the solely acting in their own self-interest, (E-

International Relations). Specifically, the bargaining model of war, is a theory in international

relations that provides insight as to why states engage in war. Accordioning to Levy, in his

writings about the bargaining model of war, he explains it as a theory that “provides such a link

between micro motivations and macro processes and outcomes, (Levy, 64).” The theory dives

into the idea that war, being costly, resource draining and ultimately ineffective in attempts at

conflict solving. Evidently, there must be some agreement/ settlement at the end of the war that

would satisfy both sides more than the fighting. These motives and ideas mean that in order for

war to take place, “one side must expect that they can gain more by war than by negotiation

(Levy, 64).” While there are many moments of conflict through our history, World War One,

which took place from 1914 to 1918, is a real-life example of this model.
2

Ohtake

The conflict, dubbed the Great War, was fought by the great powers of the world at the

time, on one side, the central powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey and the Ottoman

empire (southeastern Europe, western Asia and northern Africa), fought against the allied powers

of Russia, France, Britain, Japan, Italy and the United States. While the US was a great ally of

the winning side, their participation in the war was not for its entire course, and their late entry is

a decision that built up years and years of international conflict and involvement. This entry is

what we will be examining and analyzing today. Why did the US make the decision to intervene

at all, and why did it wait until 1917 to do so when its allies were already participating in a full-

fledged war? Well, to begin understanding this landmark decision that continues to impact the

united states international relations, we must analyze what started this conflict to begin with, and

how the process of the decision to enter backs up the theory of realism.

Answering the question of how’s war begins is not an easy one, and often involves the

process of analyzing several different events that built up international conflicts and tensions

over timely. This is definitely the case when we think about the start of the First World War. In

an article by Britannica, they list and summarize 5 main causes of the war. In 1914, the

assassination of Austrian Archduke Fernanda by Serbian nationalists, the sinking of British naval

ships by Germany, German victory in the Franco- German War, rising nationalism in the

Balkans and the downfall of French supremacy all created the tensions that eventually developed

into war.

The causation of the USA’s entry into the war, however, is separate and different from

the causes that led the rest of the world into the conflict. Whereas the French, British, Russians

and other allied powers were thrown into the battles based on entirely different offenses from the
3

Ohtake

Central Powers. In an article by History.com, the reasons as to why the United States was

provoked into finally entering the war.

Initially, when the war began in 1914, the united states took a neutral position. While this

position was what the united states insisted on upholding to international states, Britain was the

united states “closest trading partner, (History.com).” Due to this partnership, tensions between

the United States and Germany rose. As many historians speculated, a large cause of Woodrow

Wilson (the president of the United States)’s decision to enter the war was due to the naval

attacks made by Germany. In a speech before congress on April 2, 1917 he provided reasoning to

support his request for their approval to declare war against Germany, “... announcement of the

Imperial German Government that on and after the 1st day of February it was its purpose to put

aside all restraints of law or of humanity and use its submarines to sink every vessel that sought

to approach either the ports of Great Britain and Ireland or the western coasts of Europe or any of

the ports controlled by the enemies of Germany within the Mediterranean, (Wilson, 1).” These

attacks, which were the largest cause of American entry into the war, did not happen surprisingly

and took place over several years leading up to Wilson’s address to congress.

Prior to America’s entrance into the war, the tensions between Germany and any allies of

Britain began to impact Americans after “Germany announced unrestricted use of warfare

against all ships… that entered the war zone around Britain, (History.com).” This ban, resulted in

the sinking of several US and ships belonging to other allied powers, and the death of hundreds

of Americans. In 1915, the first offenses committed by German submarines against Americans

took place. After the sinking of several American ships while traveling to Britain, and the

skinning of a private American ship, tensions between Germany and America were at an all-time

high. However, the United States entry into the war was stopped when German officials claimed
4

Ohtake

the mistake was an accident, therefore prevent another nations involvement. While Germany’s

sinking of the ships was a deliberate act of violence against the US, it was not enough to evoke a

war out of either sides.

Several other offenses on Germany’s side on the naval front added to the breaking point

in the United States neutrality. Specifically, the sinking of British ship Lusitania, resulting in the

death of 128 Americans, (History.com). The United States was infuriated, while the Germans

argued the ship was carrying mutations, and promised to stop sinking foreign ships, more

American lives were lost in the following month. In November of 1915, more American lives

were lost due to Germany’s attack on an Italian ship, turning American public opinion strongly

against Germany and its allies. However, this was not the end of these attacks. In 1917, when

Germany decided to sink American liner the Housatonic, “Congress passed a $250-dollar arms

appropriations bill intended to make the united states ready for war, (History.com).” This act by

congress was intended to begin to prepare America for the war. After the passing of this bill,

Germany continued to strike and sink American ships, before the Us had even officially entered

the war. This act by congress shows that the United States Government was finally preparing to

make the decision it had been avoiding for many years.

Due to Germany’s offenses on international waters, relations between the two nations

were already crumbling, and the public opinion of American society was strongly against

Germany. However, the naval attacks were not the only causation of the United Sates’ ultimate

decision to enter the war in 1917. At the beginning of 1917, a telegram sent by Germany to

Mexico was the final straw for the United States. The telegram written by German Foreign

Minister Arthur Zimmerman was intercepted and decoded by Britain, revealed Germany’s

intentions to form a secret alliance with Mexico against the United States. The translation of the
5

Ohtake

telegram reads, “We make Mexico a proposal of alliance on the following basis: make war

together, make peace together, (Archives.Gov).” This proposal by Zimmerman, took much

consideration and analyzation from both American and British governments. However, it did not

result in an alliance between Mexico and Germany. As the Bargaining model of war speculates

that states will only join/ act in war if they can make up for the cost of battle when the war was

over, despite a promise of, “generous financial support and an understanding on our part that

Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, (Archives.Gov),”

from Germany, Mexico denied the request. “The Mexicans had no way of facing up to the

firepower of America, there was no conceivable way for Germany to safely send supplies to

Mexico and finally The offer would sour relations with Mexico’s other connections,

(Zimmermanamerica.weebly.com).” These reasons, all back up the claim made in the Bargaining

model of war. However, American officials made the decision to enter the war a month after

Zimmerman confirmed the legitimacy of the telegram, joining the allied powers in one of the

deadliest wars in our world’s history.

As we examined the possible causations of World War One, we have to go back to the

original question asked, what would be the tipping point that influenced the united states into the

war? Why did the US choose to enter, after staying neutral for so long? We can see the causes of

America’s entry that most historians recognize, The naval attacks by Germany and their proposal

of an alliance against America to Mexico, but ultimately, the combination of these offenses still

would not have led to war if Woodrow Wilson felt America could not gain something from

defeating Germany and it’s allies. “There is one choice we cannot make, we are incapable of

making:,” says Woodrow Wilson in an address to congress, “we will not choose the path of

submission and suffer the most sacred rights of our nation and our people to be ignored or
6

Ohtake

violated, (Wilson, 2).” While the entry of the United States into the war was originally highly

discouraged by the American public, the public opinion shifted juristically. After Germany’s

ruthlessness by killing innocent Americans on traveling ships and attempts to turn other nations

against America, Woodrow Wilson had no choice but to join the Allied Powers. As the

Bargaining Model of War concludes, nations do not join wars unless “the military and political

outcome [means that the United States] would gain more by war than by negotiation, (Levy,

64).” To sit by and continue to let neutral Americans die without fighting was something

Woodrow Wilson and the American public would never do, and therefore America’s entry the

first World War would result in the downfall of the German empire, and lead to years of future

conflict.

Entering wars is always a complicated issue and a choice that is highly analyzed by those

who study international relations. By looking at America’s decision to enter World War One, we

can create theories as to why War happens, and use past conflicts to prevent future ones.

Ultimately, no matter how large or small battles are, and which side wins or loses, citizens of the

state lose their lives. For a Nation to enter a war, they must believe that the country is truly at

risk, and the causes of Woodrow Wilson to thrust America into the battle is one that was highly

calculated, considered, and ultimately led to a period of global peace.

7

Ohtake

Bibliography

1. History.com Editors. “U.S. Entry into World War I.” History.com, A&E Television

Networks, 6 Apr. 2017, www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/u-s-entry-into-world-war-i

2. “America Enters the Great War.” National Archives and Records Administration,

National Archives and Records Administration, 2017,

www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2017/spring/wwi-america-enters

3. Levey, “Barganing Model Of War:” The Dyalic Interactions of states

4. “U.S. Participation in the Great War (World War I)  :  Progressive Era to New Era, 1900-

1929  :  U.S. History Primary Source Timeline  :  Classroom Materials at the Library of

Congress  :  Library of Congress.” The Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/classroom-

materials/united-states-history-primary-source-timeline/progressive-era-to-new-era-1900-

1929/united-states-participation-in-world-war-i/
8

Ohtake

5. History.com Editors. “U.S. Enters WWI.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 9

Feb. 2010, www.history.com/this-day-in-history/america-enters-world-war-i

6. Knipsel, Sandra. “Why Did the U.S. Enter World War I?” NewsCenter, 14 Oct. 2020,

www.rochester.edu/newscenter/looking-back-100-years-u-s-enters-world-war-i-on-april-

6-1917/

7. Zimmermann Telegram, 1917; Decimal File, 1910-1929, 862.20212/82A (1910-1929),

and Decoded Zimmermann Telegram, 1917; Decimal File, 1910-1929, 862.20212/69,

General Records of the Department of State; Record Group 59; National Archives.

8. Royde-Smith, John. “World War I.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica,

Inc., 2 Nov. 2020, www.britannica.com/event/World-War-I

9. Camisão, Sandrina Antunes and Isabel. “Introducing Realism in International Relations

Theory.” E, 5 Aug. 2018, www.e-ir.info/2018/02/27/introducing-realism-in-international-

relations-theory/
9

Ohtake

10. “Wilson's War Message to Congress.” Wilson's War Message to Congress - World War I

Document Archive, wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/Wilson's_War_Message_to_Congress