Question

One of the reasons the United States saw Germany as an enemy was that:

a) German soldiers helped fight against America in the American Revolution.
b) In order to attack France by surprise, the German army invaded Belgium, which was a neutral country.
c) The German people favored a political system ruled by an emperor.
d) Germany was responsible for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Serbia.

Answer 1

Germany's invasion of neutral Belgium and unrestricted submarine warfare, including the sinking of ships with American citizens, were critical factors in the U.S. declaring war on Germany and joining the Allied Powers in World War I.

Step-by-step explanation:

The United States saw Germany as an enemy primarily due to Germany's aggressive military strategies and violations of neutral rights. One such event was Germany's invasion of Belgium, a neutral country, which was part of its plan to quickly attack France. This act not only breached Belgium's neutrality but also incited Great Britain to join the war due to its treaty with Belgium. Additionally, Germany's submarine warfare, which targeted and sank ships regardless of neutral status, including those with American citizens, profoundly affected U.S. sentiment. The most notable sinking was that of the Lusitania, which carried American passengers and stoked public opinion against Germany. These actions, combined with other strategic concerns such as the Zimmerman Telegram, compelled the United States to abandon its initial isolationist stance and declare war on Germany in April 1917, joining the Allies in World War I.