Final answer:
The USA joined the Allied Powers during World War I, after initially adopting a neutral stance. This decision was influenced by German actions such as unrestricted submarine warfare and the Zimmermann Telegram, as well as the Tripartite Pact during World War II.
Step-by-step explanation:
Did the USA Join the Allies or the Central Powers?
The question of whether the USA joined the Allies or the Central Powers during World War I can be explained by looking at the global alliances and actions of the United States. At the outbreak of World War I, known as "The Great War", the world was divided into two major alliances: the Allied Powers and the Central Powers. The Allied Powers were originally based on the Triple Entente of France, Britain, and Russia, which later grew to include additional nations like Italy, Japan, Belgium, and significantly, the United States.
Initially, the Central Powers were comprised of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire, with Bulgaria joining later. The United States had adopted a policy of neutrality at the war's outset; however, several factors contributed to the US abandoning its neutral stance and entering the conflict on the side of the Allied Powers in 1917. Key among these factors was the German policy of unrestricted submarine warfare, which led to American casualties and the sinking of ships with Americans onboard. Furthermore, the interception of the Zimmermann Telegram, in which Germany proposed a military alliance with Mexico against the United States, incited public opinion against the Central Powers.
Germany's alliance with Japan during World War II through the Tripartite Pact and the subsequent Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor were also instrumental in propelling the United States into active involvement in World War II on the side of the Allies. It is noteworthy that Italy, initially aligned with the Central Powers, switched to the Allied side in 1915 due to various territorial and political motivations. Eventually, the arrival of American troops in the summer of 1917 provided a significant boost to the war-weary Allied forces, tipping the balance in their favor and paving the way to their ultimate victory over the Central Powers.
In conclusion, while the USA initially maintained a neutral position, it eventually joined the Allied Powers during World War I to fight against the Central Powers.