On April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson addressed Congress to request a declaration of war against Germany. He cited unrestricted submarine warfare and the threat to neutral shipping as key reasons for action. Wilson framed the conflict as a struggle to make the world “safe for democracy.” Congress approved the declaration a few days later, bringing the United States fully into World War I. American troops and resources helped tip the balance on the Western Front. The decision also marked a major shift in U.S. foreign policy toward greater global involvement.
