The Great War had now been raging for nearly a year, and the outcome was beginning to look clear. The prospect of an early end to the conflict was undoubtedly something the war-torn peoples longed for. However, not all shared this sentiment.
Across the Atlantic, the United States was one such nation. After the war broke out, American merchants frantically expanded production, hoping to reap vast profits by selling goods to the warring nations. Yet, as the war neared its conclusion, they found themselves in an increasingly dire situation. France had been defeated, and Britain had been blockaded by Germany, rendering their goods unsellable. Meanwhile, Germany itself, with its robust industrial base, had no trouble meeting its domestic needs.
As goods piled up in warehouses, unsold and accumulating, many factories began to close their doors. The result was a steady decline in the American economy, with rising unemployment exacerbating the crisis.
The government, upon realizing the gravity of the situation, found itself powerless to intervene. The merchants, driven by blind ambition, had hoped to profit immensely from the war. Now, they found themselves trapped by their own reckless expansion.
At the White House, in the midst of an emergency meeting, President Woodrow Wilson wore a fatigued expression, unable to mask his exhaustion. The worsening crisis had kept him endlessly busy, leaving little time for rest.
"Mr. President, every day more and more small factories are going bankrupt. A great number of workers are losing their jobs. Even the larger factories can't last much longer. The nation's economy is deteriorating rapidly. If we don't take swift and decisive action, the damage to our economy will be irreversible!" said Secretary of Commerce Redfield, his face etched with worry.
"What can be done? So many goods have been produced, but there's no market for them. Were these merchants so blind that they never considered whether there was even enough demand to justify the expansion of production?" groused Secretary of War Garrison.
The economic decline was also affecting the military's budget. Funds that should have been allocated to fortify the military were now being diverted elsewhere, much to Garrison's frustration.
"Didn't they all hope to make a fortune from the war? Yet none of us anticipated the conflict would end so quickly," remarked Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo.
"Indeed. We had assumed the war would last at least two or three more years. A protracted and bloody conflict would drain the resources of the European powers. We could have used that time to profit greatly, all while waiting for the European powers to weaken, allowing us to rise to prominence. But who could have foreseen that Germany would exhibit such formidable military strength? The Entente powers have proved so vulnerable under their onslaught," lamented Secretary of State Bryan.
The rapid conclusion of the war was undoubtedly disadvantageous for the United States. Americans had long hoped for European nations to mire themselves in a prolonged, exhausting conflict. That way, they could reap the benefits of war profits while sitting back and watching Europe's decline. Perhaps, even, they could supplant Britain as the world's dominant power.
Now, however, they realized how mistaken their calculations had been. Germany's overwhelming military power had swept across Europe, leaving their plans in tatters.
"Germany is furious with us for selling warships to the British. Their ambassador has lodged a formal protest. If not for Germany's imminent assault on British soil, they might well have taken military action against us," Bryan continued.
"War with us? That's impossible, at least in the short term. When they've recovered their strength or fully absorbed the spoils of this war, it may become a possibility. But for now, we have little time. We must accelerate the development of our military forces. If we wait until Germany turns its attention toward us, we'll be caught off guard," Garrison said, his brow furrowed in concern.
Despite the Atlantic Ocean acting as a buffer, Germany's formidable navy could easily cross it, threatening the safety of the American mainland.
"Our navy is already in a weakened state. After selling twelve battleships to the British, we now only have two Pennsylvania-class battleships to hold the line. While these ships are impressive, they stand little chance against Germany's navy. However, our battleships have proven effective in naval combat. Especially the two Nevada-class ships, with their superior armor, which have demonstrated remarkable performance on the battlefield. This proves our naval development strategy is sound. I recommend we expedite the expansion of our navy. If we build a powerful fleet, we can hold the Germans off in the Atlantic, ensuring the safety of our homeland!" declared Secretary of the Navy Daniels.
"To ensure the safety of the Republic, our military must be strengthened at all costs. No matter how grim our financial situation, we must not delay military funding. As for the domestic economy, I suppose we'll have to wait until those small factories collapse before we can find ways to support them. After all, with capacity expanded so drastically, there is no hope of recovery unless we scale back," President Wilson stated.
The other cabinet members nodded in agreement. They knew that this strategy would likely cause significant economic hardship, but they saw no other choice. If they didn't reduce production capacity, the economy would never recover.
"As for the unemployed, the government should do its best to provide them with work. Infrastructure projects could provide jobs and wages, even if they're modest. As long as people can feed themselves, they won't cause unrest. If we maintain social stability, I believe the difficulties we face will eventually be overcome," President Wilson continued.
"Yes, Mr. President," the cabinet members responded in unison.
"The real threat to us, however, remains Germany. Our sale of battleships to the British has undoubtedly angered them. After the war, they will find ways to punish us for this," President Wilson said, his voice tinged with deep concern.