Final answer:
The U.S. entered WWII primarily due to Japan's bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, leading to a declaration of war on Japan.
Step-by-step explanation:
The catalyst that pushed the U.S. into WWII was D. The bombing of Pearl Harbor. On December 7, 1941, Japan's surprise attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii resulted in the United States declaring war on Japan, which then led to Nazi Germany declaring war on the United States due to the Tripartite Pact. This event shifted the United States' stance from isolationism to active participation on the Allied side in World War II, significantly influencing the course of the war.