#ThisDayInHistory America Officially Entered WW1
On this day in 1917, America officially entered World War I after the U.S. House of Representatives supported the declaration of war against Germany, which the U.S. Senate had already approved with an 82 to 6 vote.
President Woodrow Wilson declared American neutrality at the outbreak of the war in 1914, a position that most Americans supported.
Nevertheless, tensions escalated between the U.S. and Germany due to Germany's attempts to blockade Britain, a significant trading partner of the United States.
German mines damaged or sunk several U.S. ships en route to Britain, and Germany declared unrestricted warfare against any ships entering the British war zone in February 1915.
The U.S. demanded reparations and an end to German attacks on unarmed ships after the British-owned Lusitania ocean liner was torpedoed without warning, killing 128 Americans.
Public opinion in the United States shifted decidedly against Germany after further attacks on unarmed vessels.
In 1917, Germany resumed unrestricted warfare in war-zone waters, leading the United States to sever diplomatic relations with the country.
Following the sinking of four more U.S. merchant ships, President Wilson requested a declaration of war against Germany on April 2, which was granted four days later.
The arrival of the well-equipped American forces in France marked a significant turning point in the conflict, ultimately leading to the Allies victory.
By the end of the war on November 11, 1918, over two million American soldiers had served in Western Europe, with 50,000 of them losing their lives.
#ThisDayInHistory
April 6, 1917