It was a revolutionary war in many ways; no war of such massive proportions, mechanization, and involvement had ever taken place before. World War I witnessed America’s break with isolationism, and their emergence as a world power. The country at home also underwent revolutionary change; social statuses, economic standing, labor systems, and progressivism itself. The war provided America with the circumstances necessary to emerge as the leader of the world, and changed the home front in radical ways.
When the war in Europe broke out, the United States was hesitant to get involved. It was not their conflict, and there was, initially, no overwhelming reason to get involved. The public, as shown in , was against engaging in the Europeans’ war. Wilson was also an advocate for neutrality. The country was not completely uninvolved; the United States was supporting the Allied Powers economically by smuggling weapons and supplies via passenger ships. When the Lusitania sank at the hands of the German U-boats, Wilson was forced to reconsider his stance. He first attempted to help the European nations in conflict reach a compromise. These efforts soon proved to be futile and Wilson prepared for the worst, authorizing a
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The weapons trade prior to direct involvement bolstered the economy, and America became a leading creditor of the world. War production drastically altered the economy in the United States, and the prosperity leading into the Roaring Twenties allowed workers higher standard conditions, better wages, and shortened hours. After the war workers wanted to keep their newfound benefits, and 1919 saw the height of labor strikes as employers tried to cut back to maintain costs. The fear of radicalism that swept through America after World War I made Americans more reluctant to join labor unions. Labor unions and progressives were in decline, and the Great Depression would see their