Why is the period from 1914-1918 viewed as a turning point in U.S. history?
1 Answer
America changed from a relatively isolationist country to a member of the world.
Explanation:
Prior to 1918 the only interaction the United States had had in war, since the revolution and War of 1812, was with Spain. Spain was a fast fading power and the Spanish American War had Spain seceding many territories the US desired, Puerto Rico was prime among them.
But the US showed little interest in world affairs even after the beginning of WW1. Woodrow Wilson had campaigned on keeping the U.S. out of wars in Europe which all knew were coming.
But by 1917 with the stalemate of the war ruining the economies of our friends and trading partners, England and France, the US became convince by David Lloyd George, England's Prime Minister, that to win the war, England and France truly needed America's help.
When the war finished, America set out on a mission to build 50 new Battleships. America's involvement in WW1 showed us to be a world power and with that each president going forward accepted that to be true.
