United States' Entry Into the First World War

<p>The complicated situation which led to the American entry into the First World War in 1917 is often explained from the perspective of public opinion US domestic politics or financial and economic opportunity. This book however reasserts the importance of diplomats and diplomacy. Based on extensive original research the book provides a detailed examination of British German and American diplomacy in the period 1914-17. It argues that British and German diplomacy in this period followed the same patterns as had been established in the preceding decades. It goes on to consider key issues which concerned diplomats including the international legality of Britain's economic blockade of Germany Germany's use of unrestricted submarine warfare peace initiatives and Germany's attempt to manipulate in its favour the long history of distrust in Mexican-American relations. Overall the book demonstrates that diplomats and diplomacy played a key role thereby providing a fresh and original approach to this crucially important subject. JUSTIN QUINN OLMSTEAD is an Assistant Professor of History at the University of Central Oklahoma.</p>