USA HISTORY

During his re-election campaign in 1916, President Wilson used the slogan, “He kept us out of war.” In April 1917, Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war on Germany. What explains the reason for this change

(A) German forces had invaded Poland and Belgium

(B) ** Germany had resumed unrestricted submarine warfare

(C) Britain was invaded by nations of the Central Powers

(D) Russia signed a treaty of alliance with the German government.

Concept note-1: -Woodrow Wilson, a leader of the Progressive Movement, was the 28th President of the United States (1913-1921). After a policy of neutrality at the outbreak of World War I, Wilson led America into war in order to “make the world safe for democracy.”

Concept note-2: -Wilson cited Germany’s violation of its pledge to suspend unrestricted submarine warfare in the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean, and its attempts to entice Mexico into an alliance against the United States, as his reasons for declaring war.

Concept note-3: -It was Wilson’s goal to keep America completely out of World War I, which began in 1914-and have the country serve as a peacemaker to other nations. However, his efforts were largely unsuccessful; many countries failed to take seriously any of Wilson’s offers to be a mediator.

Concept note-4: -On April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson delivered this address to a joint session of Congress and called for a declaration of war against Germany. The resulting congressional vote brought the United States into World War I.