An investigating committee in the 1930s concluded that selfish economi

An investigating committee in the 1930s concluded that selfish economic interests had pressed the United States into war in 1917. Does this sound plausible to you? Why or why not?

What will be an ideal response?

ANSWER
The so-called “merchants of death” argument was that trade with the Allies increased enormously after 1914, while trade with the Central Powers declined. Ten times the amount of credit was extended to the Allies than the Central Powers between 1915 and 1917. The committee concluded that the health of the national economy had been made dependent on the profits of trade with the Allies, thus the success of the Allies became vital to America’s own economic well-being.