"That in combination with unrestricted submarine warfare really did mean German conduct in the war was far crueler then the Allies."
Both Britain and Germany tried to prevent the US from shipping arms and supplies to the other country, via whatever tools they had available. The US either chose to not even try to ship supplies to Germany, or if they did, since British naval power was in the form of ships,so they could turn away US merchant-ships without blowing them up. But with US shipping supplies to Britain, the only tool Germany had available was the submarine warfare, which is a much blunter tool.
From the perspective of an American citizen, I think that the 'unrestricted submarine warfare' pretext was bogus. The US should not have shipped supplies to either side, and then there would have been no submarine warfare against US ships.
Follow the money. The financial aspect of the war was interesting in itself, if you can bear finance as an intellectual subject at all. [1] I haven't studied this very deeply but of course the Morgans are involved. Modern wars (starting from around the 18th century) all involve a financial angle and though I feel that certain bankers were criticized for racist reasons, the assistance of bankers in providing and retiring war debt is important. I think it would be likely that my studies would end up supporting the idea that the American side was hoping to fund or supply that which could be conveniently funded or supplied without actually fighting.
Both Britain and Germany tried to prevent the US from shipping arms and supplies to the other country, via whatever tools they had available. The US either chose to not even try to ship supplies to Germany, or if they did, since British naval power was in the form of ships,so they could turn away US merchant-ships without blowing them up. But with US shipping supplies to Britain, the only tool Germany had available was the submarine warfare, which is a much blunter tool.
From the perspective of an American citizen, I think that the 'unrestricted submarine warfare' pretext was bogus. The US should not have shipped supplies to either side, and then there would have been no submarine warfare against US ships.