Question

Which best explains why the United States was able to remain neutral at the outbreak of hostilities in 1914, while most of Europe went to war?
The United States avoided alliances that would have forced them to participate.
The United States secretly sent troops and supplies to support countries on both sides.
The United States did not allow any immigration from countries involved and had no close ties.
The United States lacked any military resources that would have been valuable in the war.

Answer 1

The United States avoided alliances that would have forced them to participate.

Explanation: At the war’s outbreak the U.S. pursued a policy of neutrality and had no binding alliances obligating it to join either side. (Options 2–4 are incorrect: the U.S. did not secretly send troops in 1914, it had large immigrant ties to Europe rather than none, and it did possess valuable economic and material resources.)