The event that was most influential in turning American public opinion against Germany was:
(B) The Sussex Pledge
Further explanation
At the beginning of the First World War, American public opinion was mostly in favor of neutrality. The Americans had no real reason to engage in this violent and deadly conflict. The battles took place far from the United States and did not concern them. On the other hand, they agreed with the ideas of freedom defended by the French people but regarded Russia as a discriminatory and dictatorial country. What made them change their mind was the aggressive attitude of the Germans with their submarines in the Atlantic Ocean.
Indeed, from the beginning of the year 1916, the German army attacked all the boats which were on their way, except for the boats of tourism. This policy did not last long. On March 24, 1916, a French boat full of tourists was damaged, 50 people were killed. There were no American deaths but many of them wounded. The citizens of the United States were shocked, forcing the German leaders to promise never to do it again. However, those leaders changed their strategy in 1917 because they believe that unrestricted submarine warfare was their only way to win against the allies. It was this betrayal of their Sussex promise that prompted American public opinion to call for a war against Germany.
Learn more
- Germany submarine campaign during World War I: brainly.com/question/528998
- The western front: brainly.com/question/452682
- The Blitzkrieg: brainly.com/question/10537685
Answer details
Subject: History
Chapter: World War I
Keywords: The US neutrality before World War I, the United States in World War I, Germany’s strategy during World War I, famous events of World War I
