Two alliances dominated Europe before World War I. The Allied Powers included France, Great Britain, Italy, Portugal, and Russia. The Central Powers included Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria. Each side promised to protect its allies. Each side built up its military. People of different ethnicities and nationalities did not get along. Tensions were high, and war was looming.
These are the questions Americans faced when World War I broke out in Europe. For about three years, America stayed neutral. What finally caused America to step in? Whose side did America fight on? Follow the timeline of events to find out.