The United States Enters World War I: 28 Newspaper Front Pages from 100 Years Ago Today
On April 6, 1917, the United States Congress declared war on the German Empire. Although public opinion had been mixed, on April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson stood before a special joint session to make the case that “armed neutrality…is impracticable.” “The wrongs against which we now array ourselves,” he said, “are no common wrongs; they cut to the very roots of human life.” The Senate passed Wilson’s war resolution 82 to 6; the House voted 373 to 50.
The following front pages—representing more than 20 states and 25 cities—capture the momentous American decision to join the Allies in a “war to end all wars.” Each was published a century ago today and can be found in Early American Newspapers, Series 1 to 13, 1690-1922.
From Alaska
From Arizona
From California
From Colorado
From Florida
From Georgia
From Illinois
From Louisiana
From Massachusetts
From Michigan
From Mississippi
From Nebraska
From New Jersey
From New Mexico
From North Carolina
From Oklahoma
From Pennsylvania
From South Carolina
From Utah
From Virginia
From Wyoming
When the war ended 18 months later, more than 115,000 American soldiers had been killed. Today, a century hence, historian Michael Kazin notes that “most Americans know little about why the United States fought in World War I, or why it mattered.” To gain a deeper understanding of the forces leading to U.S. intervention, and the immediate impact of that decision on American life in small towns and big cities across the country, Early American Newspapers represents a unique and invaluable resource. For more information about this online collection, please contact readexmarketing@readex.com.
