AHC: United States starts WWI

Have the internationally recognized government of the United States start the First World War with no unreasonable doubt. They can start it any where and any how, they just have to be the unquestioned cause of the war. Bonus points if the sides line up as they did in OTL. They can also win or lose as the situation unfolds.
 
US wasn't part of the grand alliance game at that point so I really have a hard time seeing this happening in any logical way. If they become the obvious instigator at that point it will most likely be them against the rest of the world and that won't be a great war. That will be Europe burning down the East coast.
 

trurle

Banned
Liberia. De-facto American colony in North Africa - but it was not a common knowledge. If some remote state (Austro-Hungary or Ottomans, or even Russians?) will make a mistake by attacking Liberia as part of general scramble for Africa (overlooking US connection), United States will have both formal casus belli and the domestic popular support for initiating WWI.

May be some small action like
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austrian_colonization_of_Nicobar_Islands
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagallo

Of course, it will be not perceived as WWI initially - not before escalation. US public will initially perceive conflict scope as similar to Barbary Wars.
 
I think this is a case of "If Hitler wasn't anti-semitic, he wouldn't be Hitler." A World War I started by the USA wouldn't be World War I as we know it.

But you could re-tool it as "Have the United States start the first world war(notice the small case) of the 20th Century, and the 'Archduke Ferdinand' world war gets butterflied away".
 
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Spain enters the alliance system on someone's side; once the Spanish American war begins, said alliance supports Spain, America is defeated, militarily builds up and aligns with the other alliance system, have Remember the Maine 2 and presto.
 
After the Spanish War, the idea of driving the Europeans from the AMericas takes root The US picks a fight with France as the weakest power left, the British back the French out of fear of being next. The Germans can't believe their luck. After the Anglo-French alliance is battered by the Americans the Germans pounce on the French- the alliance system takes over and all Europe is at war in three days
 
After the Spanish War, the idea of driving the Europeans from the AMericas takes root The US picks a fight with France as the weakest power left, the British back the French out of fear of being next. The Germans can't believe their luck. After the Anglo-French alliance is battered by the Americans the Germans pounce on the French- the alliance system takes over and all Europe is at war in three days
While i like the first half for a cause for a more interventionist US I think you would need a rebellion in French territory for the US to jump on, or French attempting further influence in the Americas. Better would be if you have a series of confrontations so it would be a buildup instead of a single incident with the US increasing its armed forces and the French stationing more forces in the Anericas and maybe expanding their navy as well.
 

raharris1973

Gone Fishin'
Donor
Monthly Donor
and the domestic popular support for initiating WWI.

Hah! No.

Have the internationally recognized government of the United States start the First World War with no unreasonable doubt. They can start it any where and any how, they just have to be the unquestioned cause of the war. Bonus points if the sides line up as they did in OTL. They can also win or lose as the situation unfolds.

Fairly easy to achieve, if the measure is America starts the ball rolling. Take your pick of any scenario for a German-American war, have the Americans start it, then have France attack Germany for revanche, and then sooner or later all the rest of the European coalitions become involved, probably when the Germans beat back the French and threaten to put France out of business.

I explored this idea that it could be difficult to contain any German-American war in this old thread:

https://www.alternatehistory.com/fo...germany-in-any-war-with-another-power.324319/
 

trurle

Banned
Fairly easy to achieve, if the measure is America starts the ball rolling. Take your pick of any scenario for a German-American war, have the Americans start it, then have France attack Germany for revanche, and then sooner or later all the rest of the European coalitions become involved, probably when the Germans beat back the French and threaten to put France out of business.

I explored this idea that it could be difficult to contain any German-American war in this old thread:

https://www.alternatehistory.com/fo...germany-in-any-war-with-another-power.324319/

I agree what the escalation was difficult to contain in 1914, but starting direct US-German hostilities will be difficult exactly because the risk of escalation was too obvious. Even in case of Mexican Revolution of 1910, US and Germany initially worked together (until this alliance was ruined by WWI in 1914). More obscure, multiple-stages escalation start, not involving initially any colonial power, may be necessary.
 

ben0628

Banned
I don't know if they're plausible but here are a few:

1) Spanish-American War breaks out, Japan and British join Spain to keep America out of Asia. Russia joins on side of America, also dragging in others in the process.

2) US over involvement in Central and South America leads to tension and eventually war with multiple South American and Central American nations. Economic interests lead to European involvement.

3) US-Canadian War. Idk how but I'm sure it could happen. Obviously drags in other nations.

4) Revolts in Jamaica and other British colonies in the Carribean could lead to US intervention.

Basically the US needs to really piss Great Britain or a Spanish speaking country to start a world war.
 

trurle

Banned
I don't know if they're plausible but here are a few:

1) Spanish-American War breaks out, Japan and British join Spain to keep America out of Asia. Russia joins on side of America, also dragging in others in the process.

2) US over involvement in Central and South America leads to tension and eventually war with multiple South American and Central American nations. Economic interests lead to European involvement.

3) US-Canadian War. Idk how but I'm sure it could happen. Obviously drags in other nations.

4) Revolts in Jamaica and other British colonies in the Carribean could lead to US intervention.

Basically the US needs to really piss Great Britain or a Spanish speaking country to start a world war.
I feel all above is challenging, although (2) may be the most realistic.
 
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