(Wednesday, April 4, 1917, 11:11 p.m. local time; during World War I) — Two days after U.S. President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress to declare war against Germany, saying, “The world must be made safe for democracy,” the U.S. Senate tonight voted 82-6 in favor of declaring war against Germany. Continue reading U.S. Senate votes 82-6 for war against Germany 100 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1917)
(Monday, April 2, 1917, 8:35 p.m. local time; during World War I) — U.S. President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress tonight to declare war against Germany, saying, “The world must be made safe for democracy.”
Wilson cited Germany’s violation of its pledge to suspend unrestricted submarine warfare in the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean as well as its attempts to entice Mexico into an alliance against the United States.
Video: 'President Woodrow Wilson's War Speech - 1917 - WW1 - Hear the Text'
Video: 'The Great War episode 5 Mutiny' (April 1, 1917, at 7:55)
(Sunday, April 1, 1917; during World War I) — British poet Wilfred Owen was blown up by a trench mortar today near the town of St. Quentin in northern France and spent several days unconscious on an embankment lying amongst the remains of one of his fellow officers. Continue reading British poet Wilfred Owen badly wounded in World War I 100 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 1 1917)
Video: 'The Great War episode 5 Mutiny' (March 15, 1917, at 43:27)
(Thursday, March 15, 1917, 3:00 p.m. MSK; during World War I) — Seven days into the February Revolution, Emperor Czar Nicholas II of Russia today abdicated the throne in favor of his brother, Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich. Continue reading Emperor Czar Nicholas II of Russia abdicates 100 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 15 1917)
Video: 'The Great War episode 5 Mutiny' (March 14, 1917, at 43:11)
(Wednesday, March 14, 1917; during World War I) — Six days into the February Revolution, soldiers hostile to Czar Nicholas II, with machine guns and artillery, halted his train today about a hundred miles short of the Petrograd. Continue reading Train carrying Czar Nicholas II stopped by hostile soldiers 100 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 14 1917)
Video: 'The Great War episode 5 Mutiny' (March 11, 1917, at 40:24)
(Sunday, March 11, 1917; during World War I) — Three days into the February Revolution, soldiers under the command of General Sergey Semyonovich Khabalov, acting under the Tsar’s orders, opened fire today on unarmed striking workers in Petrograd, Russia, killing 169.
Video: 'The Great War episode 5 Mutiny' (March 8, 1917, at 39:13)
(Thursday, March 8, 1917; during World War I) — Women in Petrograd, Russia, went on strike today for “Bread and Peace,” demanding the end of World War I, an end to Russian food shortages and the end of czarism. Continue reading International Women’s Day protests in Petrograd spark February Revolution 100 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 8 1917)
Video: '1917 Immigration Act'
(Monday, February 5, 1917; during World War I) — Congress today overrode President Woodrow Wilson’s veto of the Immigration Act of 1917 aimed at preventing “undesirables” and anyone born in the “Asiatic Barred Zone” from entering the U.S. Continue reading Congress overrides President Wilson, passes immigration bill 100 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 5 1917)
(Saturday, February 3, 1917, 2:00 p.m. EST; during the Atlantic U-boat campaign of World War I) — President Woodrow Wilson announced today before a joint session of Congress that the United States had broken off diplomatic relations with Germany, after that nation had announced a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare.
Wilson did not declare that the U.S. would enter the war against Germany, though “preparations for war are being made” as The New York Times reported.
Video: 'The Sussex Pledge WW1'
(Wednesday, January 31, 1917; during the Atlantic U-boat campaign of World War I) — The German government announced today that its U-Boats would once again be allowed to practice unrestricted warfare against all allied shipping and any neutral ships that crossed into the waters around the British Isles. Continue reading Germany to resume unrestricted submarine warfare 100 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 31 1917)
