What Buchanan misses is that Germany all but declared war on the US before sinking the Lusitania.
In early February 1917, when Germany announced a return to unrestricted submarine warfare, the U.S. broke off diplomatic relations with the country. By the end of March, Germany had sunk several more passenger ships with Americans aboard and Wilson went before Congress to ask for a declaration of war on April 2, which was made four days later. The first American ships arrived in Europe within a week, marking a decisive end to U.S. neutrality.
Why did Germany do this? The war was stalling and it could not sustain it economically. It tried one more push which included to cut US supply lines. Germany knew this would draw the US into the war. Germany hoped however, that by the time the US was able to muster forces it could defeat the allies. When this failed after a year, Germany suddenly surrendered.
I agree with Pat the Wilson and others desperately wanted into the war and maintained risky policies to draw the US into to the war. Also Wilson 14 points convinced America this was a righteous war more than German U boats. When this turned out to be a lie- the war was for European boundaries, the US went isolationist and allow the European Allies to run over Germany in the treaty of Versailles.
Governments always need a plausible reason to start a conflict, be it a sinking, a shooting down or a land incursion any of which can be real or fabricated. Hitler’s excuses for attacking Poland come to mind as does the Gulf of Tonkin incident or remembering the Maine or the firing on Ft. Sumpter. What will be the next one? Who knows? Maybe when Obama misses a two foot birdie putt.
“What Buchanan misses is that Germany all but declared war on the US before sinking the Lusitania.”
Yes... and Wilson was dilly dallying like mad to keep the US out.
The Germans as well did NOT want the US involved and there was a lot of back and forth with the Kaiser and his admirals on specifics of torpedoing ships in open sea ... THEY wanted to and HE was trying to keep the US at bay... knowing that only outright and wanton targeting would move Wilson.
That seems reasonable - the cause being Germany’s return to unrestricted submarine warfare in an attempt to win the war by maritime siege.
In that case I can see how the two-years-previous sinking of the Lusitania would have had resonance.
I do not agree that Wilson wanted into the war. I believe that he naively thought that he could stay out of the war and still reap the economic benefits. When this proved impossible, Wilson threw the country into war and used it as an excuse to implement his progressive/socialist schemes of governance by executive fiat. I wonder where Obama got his idea for the same approach?