America Declares War

On April 2, 1917 following nearly three years of assailed and beleaguered neutrality, President Wilson finally declared war on Germany. Incensed by the contents of the Zimmermann Telegram, which he secretly conveyed to the press, his opinion, as well as that of the opinion of American public, had finally been swayed against the German aggressor. Moreover, Congress’s passage of the Espionage Act that same year would criminalize treasonous activities of Americans who aided the enemy.