AHC/What if the US had the World's Largest Navy by 1914

And by largest I mean at least 25% - 50% larger than the next biggest competitor (UK obviously).
Under what economic circumstances could this disparity come pass (maybe the Long Depression hits British naval expenditure much harder)?
And most importantly, what effect would early US dominance of the seas have on European geo-politics?
 
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You'd probably need a pre 1900 POD but I'll try anyways

Without it, have a big naval war as early as you can make it that involves the UK. They win it, but it's expensive and hurts the British economy in some ways. It spurs the US to really invest in its navy to maintain it's neutrality, an early version of the 1916 program if you will. Anyways the UK will of course rebuild from their losses in that war, but they start a massive rebuilding program...of Pre Dreadnoughts, which clogs up their yards at just the wrong time to handicap them in the Dreadnought race. As such one of the European powers who sat out the previous war gets a leg up on Britain, and a naval race ensues, Britain has enough advantages to eventually pull ahead, but their margin when another war breaks out is not that good. Britain being relatively behind in Dreadnoughts means she must lean on her older ships more and they die like flies. There is then a big huge battle with enough ships sunk for the RN to slip below 80% the size of the USN, at least briefly in 1914

Changes to get this situation would have more impact on Europe than the situation itself

For something that leaves the European situation more recognizable, you want a pre 1900 POD. Need to scare the US into "we need a huge navy" mode early, and really handicap British finance/shipbuilding
 
The largest dreadnought fleet possible...war in Europe starts, fleets have battle of annihilation, and Germany gets lucky enough that both fleets are seriously chewed up...
It's easier if the USA is building a few more ships--perhaps 4 each of Arkansas and New York's. Add in a pair of heavy scout cruisers (Battlecruisers by another name) and it might happen.
 
In 1900, the US Defence Budget was 1.6% of GDP, with near all of that going to the Navy, 55 Million Dollars. The latest Battleship commissioned at that time, Kearsage, was $5M.

Going to 3%, easily done due to the size of the US Economy, starts a building race that only the UK could afford to participate in with expectations of winning.
Going above that, to $300M a year is not impossible either as that was the post Treaty spending the USN had after the Naval limitations Treaties

As it was, in 1914 the US Navy budget was $143M, and 1916 with 'Second to None' in the air, was $165M, with 1917 as $1,357M.

The 1915 Program, as it had not had the entry into WWI, would have been 27 first line battleships, 25 2nd line BBs, six Battlecruisers, five 1st line cruisers, ten armored cruisers, thirteen scout cruisers, three 2nd class cruisers, ten 3rd class cruisers, 108 DDs and 175 subs by 1924
 
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