America's Decision For most of the United State's life, it has attempted to go by the words in President Washington's farewell address. These words were interpreted to mean, "Do not form permanent alliances". So the US generally stayed out of European conflicts unless the conflict was brought to the western hemisphere. Continuing with this policy, when World War I began in 1914, the US tried to remain neutral, and see to it that its rights as …showed first 75 words of 533 total…

…showed last 75 words of 533 total…harder to maintain shipping when a company's ships are being sunk by German submarines. Germany's change in naval policy toward the end of the war was a major factor in the US's joining on the side of the British. Many other aspects of public opinion and shipping were influenced by Germany's change in naval policy. The German's sinking of merchant vessels, Allied propaganda, and America's economic interests brought the US into the war against Germany.