One Hundred Years Ago Today: U.S. Entered World War I

There's some argument that the U.S. should have stayed out of WWI, perhaps to the effect that if we stayed home, the rest of the 20th century would have turned out differently (and better).

Frankly, looked at in balance-of-power terms, it was sooner or later. We went to Europe in 1917, but counterfactually, had the Western Allies failed to stop Imperial Germany in 1919, it was just a matter of time. Indeed, the rise of German power made U.S. intervention on the European continent inevitable, and with it the rise of U.S. hegemonic status.

On Twitter:

The first world war helped shape modern America. Why is it so forgotten? https://t.co/ThfuJB4xwT

— The Guardian (@guardian) April 6, 2017

100 years ago today #Congress declared war on Germany and formally entered #WWI #WW1CentetnnialKC

— WW1 Centennial (@WW1CC) April 6, 2017

The 100th anniversary of U.S. involvement in WWI will be officially commemorated in Kansas City, Mo. #WorldWarOne https://t.co/soBsoavR8V pic.twitter.com/XsFd9Rh7qn

— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) April 6, 2017