The entry of the United States into World War I in 1917 was influenced by a confluence of political, economic, and social factors. One of the primary triggers was the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare by Germany, which endangered American lives and commerce, especially after the sinking of the RMS Lusitania in 1915, resulting in the deaths of 128 Americans. Economic ties to the Allies were also significant; U.S. banks and businesses had extended substantial loans and credits to Britain and France, creating a vested interest in their victory. Additionally, the interception of the Zimmermann Telegram, in which Germany proposed a military alliance with Mexico against the United States, incited national outrage and a strong sense of threat among Americans. Public sentiment was further swayed by pro-Allied propaganda, which painted the Axis powers as autocratic and barbaric, contrasting them with the democratic values represented by the Allied nations. The combination of these factors, along with a growing belief in the moral imperative to support democracy and counter aggression, ultimately propelled the United States to abandon its initial stance of neutrality and join the conflict.
In a paragraph of at least 5-7 sentences, analyze the factors that led the United States to enter World War I.
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