World War I: The United States' Policy of Neutrality

Did the United States strictly follow a policy of neutrality during World War I?

How did the United States maintain its neutrality between 1914 and 1917?

Answer:

The United States did not strictly adhere to a policy of neutrality during World War I.

Despite declaring its policy of neutrality when World War I broke out in 1914, the United States did not completely stay out of the conflict between 1914 and 1917. The US supplied the Allies with loans and arms, conducted trade with both sides, and allowed the British naval blockade to impact German trade.

However, it wasn't until 1917 that the US officially entered the war, following the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare by Germany and the revelation of the Zimmermann Telegram. This marked a shift from the US's attempt to maintain neutrality in the early years of the war.

The US's actions, such as providing more loans and arms to the Allies and allowing the British blockade to harm the German economy, created an economic and military imbalance that favored the Allies. The sinking of the Lusitania in 1915 by a German U-boat, which resulted in the deaths of over 100 Americans, also strained US-German relations.