Video: 'WILSON ASKS CONGRESS TO DECLARE WAR 1917'

(Friday, April 6, 1917, 1:18 p.m. local time; during World War I) — War came to the United States this afternoon — war by the government and people against the Imperial German Government — as President Woodrow Wilson signed the congressional resolution declaring that “the state of war which has thrust upon the United States, is hereby formally declared.”

The resolution passed the House 373 to 50 at 3:12 a.m. today, two days after it was approved by the Senate 82 to 6.