On August 19th, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation of neutrality toward the combatants. Wilson continued to maintain a neutral stance, referred to as “Isolationism,” for the next two and half years, even in the wake of mounting German submarine attacks of civilian ships on which Americans were passengers. The most famous incident was the sinking of the British cruise ship, Lusitania, on board of which were 128 Americans. After this event, Wilson demanded that the German cease such attacks. The Germans complied, for a time, and the U.S. remained out of the conflict. During this time, Wilson remained opposed the build-up of military forces and the conscription of troops, though military leaders of all service branches strongly recommended both.

As Wilson continually attempted to broker a peace agreement, “[h]e repeatedly warned the U.S. would not tolerate unrestricted submarine warfare, in violation of international law and U.S. ideas of human rights. Wilson was under pressure from former president Theodore Roosevelt, who denounced German acts as ‘piracy’.” Wilson’s desire to play a role in the negotiations at the end of the war and to advance the prospects of the League of Nations also influenced his decision-making process.

By January, 1917 the Germans recommenced submarine attacks on passenger ships. Wilson was duly upset by this announcement as he had thought that his efforts to garner peace were making progress. Still, he hoped to keep the U.S. neutral. The sinking of three U.S. ships, however, along with the exposure of a “proposed German plot to ally with Mexico against the U.S.” to retake land in Arizona, Texas and New Mexico, as well as “the suspected German sabotage of both Black Tom in Jersey City, New Jersey, and the Kingsland Explosion in what is now Lyndhurst, New Jersey” finally forced Wilson’s hand.
 

New York Times, April 6, 1917

At 8:30 on the evening of April 2, 1917, President Wilson appeared before a joint session of Congress and asked for a declaration of war against Germany in order to “make the world safe for democracy.” On April 4, Congress “overwhelmingly” granted Wilson’s request, passing a resolution to this effect.

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