Usatiuk D. —
The Change in US Leadership Strategy Towards the European Conflict in the Context of the German Limited Submarine Warfare in 1915
// History magazine - researches. – 2019. – ¹ 5.
– P. 14 - 25.
DOI: 10.7256/2454-0609.2019.5.30579
URL: https://en.e-notabene.ru/hsmag/article_30579.html
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Abstract: The article examines the transformation of the US neutrality policy during the First World War in the context of analyzing the reaction of President W. Wilson's administration to the aggravation in February – August 1915 of the Anglo-German confrontation that significantly affected American interests. The aggravation of this confrontation resulted in the unfolding of German limited submarine warfare in order to interrupt Britain’s Atlantic communication in response to the strengthening of the British naval blockade of Germany. The author places the main focus of the study on a set of ideas and actions that laid the foundation for a new US leadership strategy regarding the European conflict, which moved away from strict neutrality to a more active involvement in the European situation. The study is based on the application of the principles of historicism and scientific objectivity. The theoretical and methodological basis of this research is the systematic approach. The research methods are the problem-chronological, historical-genetic and comparative methods. Based on a comprehensive study of the available statistical data, diplomatic documentation, and sources of private nature, the author identifies and evaluates the whole of domestic and foreign policy factors that determined the transformation of American neutrality from maneuvering between the two warring coalitions to an open orientation towards Great Britain, which subsequently led to its entry into war against Germany. As a result, the author concludes that already in 1915 the position of President Wilson’s administration, the economic and political interests of the United States made genuine neutrality almost impossible.