(My answer on Quora)
WWI was largely a war between Imperial powers bifurcated into two opposing camps. It was driven by four factors - the continental balance of power, localized nationalism, concerns for empire/colonies and various historical grievances and insecurities.
While it was true that indirectly some of these aspects impacted the United States none of them were significant enough in their own right for the United States to enter the war on the side of either the Allies or the Central Powers for the greater timeline of WWI. American popular opinion also favored neutrality.
It was only after American shipping was challenged and the obvious spillover effects became more apparent that the United States was drawn into the bloodbath.
Remember war is brutal. It can be costly on many levels as retired Marine Corps Major General Smedley Butler opined in his 1935 “War is a racket speech
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