April 6, 1917

American entry into World War I

United States declares war on Germany

The House cast its war vote at 3:12 in the morning. Wilson signed the resolution that afternoon at 1:18, with a gold pen Edith Wilson handed him.

6 April 1917 took three separate acts

The Senate had approved the war resolution 82–6 on 4 April 1917. At 3:12 a.m. on 6 April the House concurred, 373–50.

Woodrow Wilson signed it at the White House at 1:18 p.m., using a gold pen handed to him by Edith Wilson. Congress did not take one vote that day — the declaration needed all three steps.

What the resolution actually said

The joint resolution formally declared that a state of war existed between the United States and the Imperial German Government, and authorized the president to use the country's military forces and governmental resources to prosecute it.

It named Germany and nobody else. The United States did not declare war on Austria-Hungary until December 1917.

The fifty who voted no

House Majority Leader Claude Kitchin opposed the resolution despite his leadership position. Jeannette Rankin of Montana, the first woman elected to Congress, said she wanted to stand by her country but could not vote for war.

No American troops entered major combat on 6 April. Wilson issued a wartime proclamation that day, including regulations governing people classified as German enemy aliens, and the Navy began carrying out wartime orders immediately.

Sources

Researched 23 Aug 2026 7 sources 2 audit passes

How this was checked

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