“…the state of war between the United States and the Imperial German Government which has been thrust upon the United States is hereby formally declared…”
A Joint Resolution of April 6, 1917, Public Resolution 65-1, 40 STAT 1, Declaring that a State of War Exists Between the Imperial German Government and the Government and the People of the United States and Making Provision to Prosecute the Same, 4/6/1917
Series: Enrolled Acts and Resolutions of Congress, 1789 - 2011
Record Group 11: General Records of the United States Government, 1778 - 2006
Two and a half years of American neutrality in the ongoing war in Europe came to an end 100 years ago on April 6, 1917, when Congress passed a resolution declaring war on Germany, thus pushing the U.S. into World War I.
Four days earlier, on April 2, President Woodrow Wilson addressed a joint session of Congress to request a declaration of war on Imperial Germany.
Among his reasons for war was Germany’s failure to comply with its promise to halt unrestricted submarine warfare in the North Atlantic. Still fresh in the nation’s memory was the May 1915 sinking of the RMS Lusitania, and the ensuing loss of 131 Americans, as evidence of the chaos German submarines could cause.
Wilson also cited the intercepted Zimmerman telegram as evidence that peace had been compromised. The telegram proved that Germany was a real security threat to the United States and sparked anger that was instrumental in altering American public opinion towards war.
Congress concurred with the President’s reasoning and passed the resolution to declare war against Germany. On April 6, Wilson signed the resolution, and issued a Presidential Proclamation declaring war against Germany. The United States had entered the Great War.
(In commemoration of the World War I Centennial, this document in on special exhibit at the National Archives Museum through May 3, 1917)
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