ABSTRACT
In 1914 Europe was a seething caldron of defensive alliances, distrust, and territorial ambitions. Austria-Hungary and Russia clashed over who would control the Balkans, while Germany challenged the world dominance of France and Britain. Was the war due to German expansionist ambitions, the German mistake of supporting Austria-Hungary during the initial crisis, or the collective failure of all European countries to seek a diplomatic solution. Major European power determined that war was in its national interest in 1914, and all believed they were deciding for a short war of movement. The news of war in Europe shocked the American public, but building a just society at home concerned Americans more than whether or not Europeans were fighting a just war. Events in Mexico affected American participation in the First World War in several ways. A blockade to prevent war material from reaching an enemy was a recognized, legal weapon of war.
