When World War 1 broke out in 1914, the United States attempted to remain neutral and was a strong advocate the neutral rights of nations. The U.S. liked to believe that the war was strictly a European conflict, but they would soon understand that they were inadvertently part of the war effort and entering war was inevitable. The U.S. was never truly neutral in the first place, but in fact supporting Europe the whole time. The reasons for breaking neutrality were more political and economical. It was the United State’s best interest to abandon its neutrality, and choose to go to war on the side of the allies for the future protection of American assets and welfare.
The U.S. supplied the Allies financially and was afraid that if the Allies lost the war, their debts would not be paid. America has to make sure that it was still able to collect loans from Britain and
Due primarily to submarine warfare and the Zimmerman note, President Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war and justified war by the pretense of making the “world safe for democracy.” However some believed that the main reason was more economical more than humanitarian. Unrestricted submarine was tampering with American commerce. European obligations to America had to be protected. The United States felt that its defenses and country’s security were being threatened, and hence justifying their involvement into the war and breaking neutrality.
Then there was the Zimmermann Note, which revealed the German plot to ally with Mexico in the event that the United States the entered the war. Though the note was simply a contingency plan if U.S. were to enter the war, nevertheless it would pose a direct threat to the United States. The note was intercepted by British intelligence
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