The Entry of the USA and the Spring Offensive

By 1917, the war had reached a critical turning point. The entry of the United States gave the Allies a massive new source of manpower and resources, while Germany's last desperate gamble — the Spring Offensive of 1918 — nearly succeeded in winning the war before American forces arrived in strength. This lesson covers the reasons for US entry, the events of 1917–1918, and the final campaigns that led to the armistice.

---

Why Did the USA Enter the War?

The United States had maintained a policy of neutrality since 1914, following President Woodrow Wilson's declaration that America would be "neutral in fact as well as in name." However, several factors gradually drew the USA into the conflict.