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Over there | From peace to war | The military contribution
The 'special relationship' between Britain and the United States is such a central feature of modern diplomacy that it's difficult to imagine a time when this alliance did not exist. However, at the start of the 20th century, the two countries were economic and political rivals, and Britain's overt enthusiasm for empire was at odds with the United States' self-proclaimed republican and democratic traditions. Millions of Americans were of German or Irish descent, and when war broke out in 1914, some German-born Americans tried to enlist in the German army.
How did the US convert from neutrality to belligerence in two-and-a-half years? How important was its involvement in the war? Was its financial clout more significant than its military might?
In this Section:
From peace to war
The military contribution