THE QUESTION

Why did the United States enter World War I?

THE ANSWER

Because Germany attacked U.S. (civilian) ships

ALSO ACCEPTED

English question & answer

Why did the United States enter World War I?

Because Germany attacked U.S. (civilian) ships

All accepted answers (English)

Because Germany attacked U.S. (civilian) ships
To support the Allied Powers (England, France, Italy, and Russia)
To oppose the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria)

READ THE EXPLANATION

THE CONTEXT

Two world wars and a depression

Keep the world wars separate: German attacks on U.S. ships are an accepted reason for World War I.

How it fits together

The United States entered World War I in 1917. Attacks on shipping were among the reasons. The Great Depression began in 1929 and brought severe economic hardship. Franklin D. Roosevelt became president in 1933, during the Depression, and later led the country during much of World War II.

A closer look

Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941; the United States declared war on Japan the next day. Do not merge the two world wars into one story. Roosevelt and Eisenhower also had different roles during World War II: Roosevelt was president, while Eisenhower was a senior military commander.

Go to the source

The question and accepted answers come from USCIS. Explanations and translations are Verbacard editorial content.

Translations support understanding. They do not determine which language you may use at your interview.