WILSON WANTS WAR DECLARATION
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson called attacks on allied shipping by German submarines "a warfare against mankind". The President spoke to a joint session of the United States Congress beginning at 8:30 p.m. Washington time. In his address, President Wilson asked for a declaration of war on Germany.
President Wilson said...
"There are many months of fiery trial and sacrifice ahead....civilization seeming to be in the balance. But the right is more precious than peace...
The United States Senate approved the war declaration on April 4th and the House of Representatives followed on April 6th. The United States of America entered the war to "make the world safe for democracy." Very soon, America's "doughboys" would be on their way "over there."
SOURCES
"American Declaration of War on Germany, 1917," eyewitnesstohistory.com/
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson called attacks on allied shipping by German submarines "a warfare against mankind". The President spoke to a joint session of the United States Congress beginning at 8:30 p.m. Washington time. In his address, President Wilson asked for a declaration of war on Germany.
President Wilson said...
"There are many months of fiery trial and sacrifice ahead....civilization seeming to be in the balance. But the right is more precious than peace...
We shall fight for democracy....and make the world itself at last free. God helping (America) can do no other."*
The United States Senate approved the war declaration on April 4th and the House of Representatives followed on April 6th. The United States of America entered the war to "make the world safe for democracy." Very soon, America's "doughboys" would be on their way "over there."
On the evening of April 1st, President Wilson confided his misgivings of entering the world war to Frank Cobb, editor of the New York World. According to Cobb, Mr. Wilson said...
"If there is any alternative, for God's sake, let's take it."
Cobb had to admit there was no alternative. It was his opinion that the President had "just a choice of evils."
*Causes of US entry into WWI included Germany's renewal of unrestricted submarine warfare & its secret proposal to Mexico to join Germany in war against the United States (the Zimmerman Telegram).
SOURCES
"American Declaration of War on Germany, 1917," eyewitnesstohistory.com/
"U.S. Entry Into World War I, 1917," United States Department of State, Office of the Historian, www.history.state.gov/
President Wilson Asks for War Declaration
April 2, 1917
Library of Congress Photo
