which german actions helped shift u.s. public opinion toward supporting the allies in the war

During World War I and World War II, several actions by Germany played a significant role in shifting U.S. public opinion toward supporting the Allies.

In World War I:

1. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare: Germany’s policy of unrestricted submarine warfare, which included the sinking of ships without warning in international waters, angered the American public. The most famous incident was the sinking of the RMS Lusitania in 1915, where 128 Americans lost their lives. This action made many Americans view Germany as aggressive and lawless.

2. The Zimmermann Telegram: In 1917, British intelligence intercepted a secret telegram sent by German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann to Mexico, proposing a military alliance against the United States. When this telegram was made public, it inflamed American sentiment against Germany and contributed to President Woodrow Wilson's decision to enter the war on the side of the Allies.

In World War II: 1. Nazi Aggression in Europe: Germany's aggressive expansion under Adolf Hitler, and its invasion of neighboring countries, contributed to a negative view of Germany among Americans. The fall of France in 1940 particularly shocked the American public, leading to more support for the Allies.

2. The Battle of Britain: The German air campaign against the United Kingdom in 1940, with its night bombing raids, was widely covered in the American press and led to American sympathies leaning heavily in favor of the British.

3. Attack on Pearl Harbor and Germany’s Declaration of War: Although not a direct action against the U.S., Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 caused the United States to declare war on Japan. In turn, Germany, allied with Japan under the Tripartite Pact, declared war on the United States, which brought America fully into World War II on the side of the Allies.