Matthew Reardon 8-2 World War I significantly impacted American society and its effects were felt in different ways. The war's impact on American culture can be seen in the social, economic, and political changes that occurred during and after the war. Additionally, the circumstances that led to America's entry into World War I changed the country's position on international involvement. This essay discusses three ways in which World War I impacted American society and three circumstances that led to the shift in the American position regarding entrance into World War I. World War I brought economic prosperity to America due to increased demand for American goods by European countries. American farmers, manufacturers, and industries had a significant opportunity to expand their businesses and create more jobs. This economic growth and prosperity led to social changes as people's standards of living improved, and people had more disposable income to spend on entertainment and leisure activities. In 1915, the Germans sank the Lusitania, a British passenger ship carrying American passengers, resulting in the deaths of over 1,000 people, including 128 Americans. This event led to public outrage and put pressure on President Wilson to take action against Germany. …show more content…
This led to the empowerment of women and the fight for their right to vote. The 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote, was ratified in 1920, which was a significant victory for the women's suffrage movement. In 1917, the Germans sent a telegram to Mexico proposing that Mexico should join the war on the German side in exchange for financial and territorial support. British intelligence intercepted and decoded the telegram and shared it with the US. This revelation led to outrage and put pressure on President Wilson to declare war on