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bringing goods into Germany and they included on their list of “contra-
band”—items prohibited to go to the enemy because they could be used for
warfare—items such as cotton, medicine, and food, though banning them vio-
lated international law. Indeed, Germany in 1914-1915 had what it called
“the turnip winter,” because it was so short on food that people were trying
to survive on what little they could grow. Britain also put American flags on
its ships so it could claim they were neutral—the U.S. was not in the war
yet—and not allowed to be attacked by Germany. Wilson did nothing to seri-
ously challenge the British “starvation blockade,” but responded much differ-
ently when Germany fought back. The Germans had developed a new
weapon of war—U-Boats, or submarines. Germany had 21 subs when the war
began and 127 by 1917. U- Boats were particularly dangerous because they
could surface without warning and blow up enemy ships, many of which had
American goods or money on them. Given that Britain had significant
American aid on which it could count, the Germans believed that subs were
their best military hope, and they warned that all enemy ships would be
attacked and also warned passengers from “neutral” countries like the U.S. to
stay off enemy vessels. Wilson rejected the German claims and continued to
support Britain with economic aid and by agreeing with its blockade and
naval attacks while flying neutral flags. But the Germans continued U-Boat
warfare, sinking over 90 ships in early 1915. In May, however, American anger
grew. The Germans attacked and sunk The Lusitania, a luxury liner leaving
from New York and headed for Europe, killing over 1,200 people, including
128 U.S. citizens. Even though the German government had taken out ads in
U.S. papers warning Americans to stay off such ships, Wilson was furious and
called on Germany to end its submarine attacks. The Germans had little else
to fight with, but, hoping to keep the U.S. from declaring war and joining the
British fight in Europe, it went along with the president’s demand. At the
same time, American Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan told Wilson
to also warn Britain about violating the international law with its blockade
and flying neutral flags. Wilson refused and Bryan resigned.
The U.S. almost certainly was headed to war, and Wilson even killed leg-
islation to keep Americans safe by preventing them from sailing on British
ships. But 1916 was also an election year and the president did not want to
run for re-election with a war on his hands—his campaign slogan that year was
in fact “He Kept Us Out of the War.” Once the election was over and Wilson