Effects of US WW1 neutrality in politics?

Assuming the US stays neutral during WW1, how would that effect American politics? Wilson is still elected in 1916, but is the GOP still on the path to political dominance during the 1920s? What about Progressives and Socialists? If the CP win, would that change anything?
 

Deleted member 1487

Likely no. Wilson lost the rhetorical war by getting involved and then the US public getting really disillusioned with the peace process; it certainly did not help that Wilson was away and unable to defend himself in public discourse while the GOP had free reign to slander everything Wilson did while away. Likely with Wilson proven right that it was best to stay out he will keep the country more Democratic leaning, especially on economic issues...but will probably get into some trouble given the economic slump that happens when the war ends. But without the stress of the war and negotations his health probably holds up and he can hold off the OTL GOP rout of the Democrats. Likely too the groundwork for the Great Depression isn't laid, at least not as severely as we know it, without the GOP deregulation and the post-war boom caused by super spending of last 20 months of the war. A lot will depend on what happens in Europe too, as there will likely be a German victory of sorts without US intervention, so financially getting paid back by the Entente might be a bit tough and collateral given was only a fraction of the money lent. So there might well be a financial crisis on Wall Street if there are any defaults due to Germany extracting reparations before any loans get paid back. Since Britain borrowed for the Entente due to it's lower rate of borrowing and then lent out that money to her allies, Britain's finances are pretty poorly off if the CPs win. Europe economically is probably a significant mess, but if the war ends by the end of 1917 the worst of OTL's mess is avoided. Russia probably doesn't go Bolshevik and the fall out from that internationally doesn't happen.
Depending on how the politics of the post-war play out Wilson might be heralded as the great statesman for keeping the US out of the war. I'd say more likely than not the Dems come out smelling like a rose and Wilson's legacy is very positive given the overall US economic position by the time he leaves office.
 
Top