In school we learned that the U.S. began to lean toward the side of the allies after the sinking of the Lusitania and Germanys policy of unrestricted Submarine warfare. Then the Zimmerman note led to the U.S. declaring war on Germany. What events could have led to the U.S. fighting on the side of the central power? Were there any moments where it could went either way?
hi potential respondents. As you know, speculation and what-if scenarios are not permitted in this sub, so kindly keep your responses about actual events and facts, i.e. instance where the USA seriously considered joining the Central Powers.
Germany invaded neutral Belgium at the beginning of WW1. British newspapers really played this up as a tragedy. This event pretty solidly set Germany up as the "Bad Guy" for WW1. By the end of 1914 Belgium was actually facing a famine due to the invasion. Woodrow Wilson made the Belgian Relief Commission to feed Belgium during the war. Americans were constantly being bombarded in the media asking for donations to help Belgium.
After invading Belgium the Central Powers really didn't have a chance to bring the US to their side.