Why did most Americans feel that their country had no vital interests in the outcome of the war when the war began?

Why did most Americans feel that their country had no vital interests in the outcome of the war when the war began?

When the war began, most Americans felt that their country had no vital interests in the outcome of the war. Because of ethnic ties, cultural tradition, social background and economic connections, the public, generally speaking, was in favor of the allies （Britain, France, Russia and Italy）. Britain also controlled the wartime news that went into the United States. This also influenced the attitude of the American people. On August 4, 1914, President Wilson issued an official statement proclaiming American neutrality. He said that the United States “must be neutral in fact as well as in name” and “we must be impartial in thought as well as in action.”