To the winner go the spoils, to the loser goes humiliation, but if it's not your fight, avoid either of those situations and stay out of it. That seemed to be Wilson's opinion in 1914. As World War I began and expanded to much of Europe, the US [mainly Wilson] decided to remain neutral. However, things don't always go as planned. Nationalism, financial interests, and past American connections with other nations caused the US to abandon its neutrality and enter World War I.
             America's nationalism included the tendency to act in their own interest, such as protecting themselves from war. Once Germany started threatening force with their submarines, America had to take action to defend itself. If the US tolerated this international bullying, it would diminish its reputation as a great power. Instead, as document 5 shows; when Germany tried to act against America, America accepted it as a justified reason for going to war. Another one of Germany's strikes against America was the Zimmerman Note, explained in document 4. The note enraged Americans, who saw it as Germany going behind our back to set up an alliance incase things went bad. It also encouraged Mexico to take back certain parts of land that were now part of the US. Clearly this didn't please America, who once again saw this as a need to take a defensive standpoint.
             Perhaps the most influential but least honorable reason for joining the war, was the financial aspect. America had many commercial investments overseas, and this war threatened them. That was when Wilson proclaimed American a neutral country; this way keeping trade relations mellow with all countries. Some business leaders praised the choice of going neutral, others who had stronger connections with Great Britain, wanted to aid the country if necessary. After all, as document 2 shows, trade with Britain was at higher rates than trade with any other country. And when it was necessary...