When the war started in 1914, it was not yet a world war, but only a European war, involving Germany, Britain, Russia, Italy, Austria-Hungary, Serbia, and France, etc. Although the American government was pressured at times to enter the overseas war, they put forth a nuetrality policy. This stated that as the Americas were basically a "cultural melting pot", the citizens had ties to many of the European countries in the war, and so could not choose a side without becoming divided against themselves.
Despite this declaration, propoganda existed for both sides, although German propoganda had little effect compared to British and co. propoganda. This was 1) because relations and trade with Britain had been good lately, and 2) nasty little rumors about German politics, motives, and secret actions created a bad reputation for them in the US. Then in 1915, a German submarine sunk the American ship Lusitania (carrying 120 American passengers) with no warning. One year later another US ship, the Sussex, was sunk, again by German subs. These both added to the unrest, but the USA remained strictly nuetral, albeit supplying Britain and co. with materials.
After Pres. Wilson's re-election, the "Great War", as it was called then, had devestated and exhausted both sides. Since it looked to be about over, Wilson sent out diplomatic notes to all countries involved. Germany accepted, but Brits and co. did not, so the war continued. In 1917, Germany lifted its restrictions on submarine warfare. Since German subs could now sink any ship they met at sea with the excuse of believing them to be suppliers of the Allies, the US was put widely at danger, being the main Ally suppliers, and so pressure to enter the war grew again.
The Zimmerman Telegram played a key part in America's entry. German foreign minister Alfred Zimmerman wanted to keep America out of the war, so he sent a telegram to Mexico and Japan, asking them to attack the USA in order to keep them busy on their home front. His plan failed and backfired, however, when the Brits got ahold of the message and sent a copy to America, where it only caused the pressure for entry to become a demand. And thus, US Neutrality ended.
Sources:
http://www.firstworldwar.com/origins/causes.htm
http://www.thenagain.info/webchron/world/uswwi.html
http://www.sparknotes.com/history/european/ww1/section8.rhtml
What I thought....I really didn't think much on the topic. I thought there were some things that could have been handled better when I came across them in research. And, it never ceases to amaze me how much influence the press has over the general public. Then again, it always seems to me that the general public have an average IQ of about, um, 50. Are you smarter than a 5th grader?
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