What if Germany never made the Sussex pledge of May 4 1916 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sussex_pledge). It keeps sinking merchant ships without cruiser rules, ie, without warning and without provision for survivors.
The Germans made the pledge under diplomatic pressure from the Wilson Administration which had been threatening to break diplomatic relations. With the change in policy marked by the pledge in OTL, Germany switched to operating its subs by restrained cruiser rules from May 1916 until starting unrestricted submarine warfare in February 1917.
With continuous unrestricted attacks on merchant and passenger vessels through 1916 in this ATL? Does the US break diplomatic relations? When?
Does the US go to war in spring, summer or fall 1916?
With broken diplomatic relations with Germany, Wilson can't really use the "he kept us out of war" theme for reelection.
If the US declares war in 1916, what if the effect on the war?
If the US is in the war, what does that do to the 1916 election? On the one hand, Wilson can't run on peace. On the other hand, there may be a reluctance to immediately switch leadership right after declaring war.
In OTL, one thing differed between the "unrestricted" submarine warfare as Germany practiced from 1915 through May 1916, and the version it practiced later from February 1917 to November 1918. In the second iteration, they sank not only Entente ships but American ships.
If they continue their pre-May 1916 U-boat policy I assume it's just a matter of time before they end up hitting neutral ships, including American ones. I assume it was only luck that prevented it from happening earlier.
The Germans made the pledge under diplomatic pressure from the Wilson Administration which had been threatening to break diplomatic relations. With the change in policy marked by the pledge in OTL, Germany switched to operating its subs by restrained cruiser rules from May 1916 until starting unrestricted submarine warfare in February 1917.
With continuous unrestricted attacks on merchant and passenger vessels through 1916 in this ATL? Does the US break diplomatic relations? When?
Does the US go to war in spring, summer or fall 1916?
With broken diplomatic relations with Germany, Wilson can't really use the "he kept us out of war" theme for reelection.
If the US declares war in 1916, what if the effect on the war?
If the US is in the war, what does that do to the 1916 election? On the one hand, Wilson can't run on peace. On the other hand, there may be a reluctance to immediately switch leadership right after declaring war.
In OTL, one thing differed between the "unrestricted" submarine warfare as Germany practiced from 1915 through May 1916, and the version it practiced later from February 1917 to November 1918. In the second iteration, they sank not only Entente ships but American ships.
If they continue their pre-May 1916 U-boat policy I assume it's just a matter of time before they end up hitting neutral ships, including American ones. I assume it was only luck that prevented it from happening earlier.