wilsonadministration

 
                        Wilson Declares War on Germany

One hundred years ago today, April 6, 1917, (at 1:18 PM ET) President Wilson declared war on Germany. A few days earlier Wilson made an address to a joint session of Congress asking that a resolution be passed, making the important distinction that a state of war with Germany already existed – and requesting Congress to declare it. (The particular photo uploaded last week shows a later Bain News Service publication date of 1919.)


    Headlines • The New York Times • Page One • April 7, 1917
                                                              – Read the full page (pdf)


The President's proclamation to the American people announcing the existence of a state of war is as follows:

                                     A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas, the Congress of the United States, in the exercise of the constitutional authority vested in them, have resolved by joint resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives, bearing date this day, "that a state of war between the United States and the Imperial German Government which has been thrust upon the United States is hereby formally declared." – full text


            "America Has Never Begun a Foreign War"
– Editorial • The New York Times • April 8, 1917
 

Vice President Thomas R. Marshall en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_R._Marshall

Thanks for the additional information! We'll fix the names the source data and reload the description.

According to www.nps.gov/archive/gett/getttour/sidebar/reunion13.htm this would be July 4, 1913. According to www1.american.edu/heintze/FourthPres.htm "1913- President Wilson is at Gettysburg giving a Fourth of July battle reunion speech. After one hour, he leaves by train for New York on way to Cornish, N.H. to spend a few days with his family." This looks like a train to me. And here is the itinerary of his trip: wwl2.dataformat.com/PDF/D06867.pdf

Thank you swanq. We'll update this record and other related photos of the reunion event.