On April 2, 1917, Congress met in special session and heard Woodrow Wilson ask for a declaration of war against Germany. Two days later the Senate adopted the war resolution and two days after that the House approved it. Wilson signed the proclamation that same day. Three days later the Secretary of War asked the nation’s governors to establish state councils of defense which would mobilize the war effort. On April 12 the movement began in Missouri.
AOWM – April 24