President Calls Congress April 2 to Act on Grave National Policy
03/21/1917
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This cartoon depicts President Woodrow Wilson calling for Congress to meet on April 2, 1917 in an extraordinary session, dramatizing a crisis that defined several weeks of action. Keeping America out of the war had helped Wilson win re-election in November, 1916.
Two months later, in January, Wilson proposed a peace conference, but the Allies rejected the idea. The situation escalated in early February when Germany announced a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare against neutral shipping. German submarines sank three American ships on March 18, signaling to Wilson that Germany was making war on the United States.
The crossed-out date seen on the calendar page reflects the President’s desire for Congress to assemble as quickly as possible to address the German attacks. This cartoon appeared a day after newspapers reported the overthrow of the Czar of Russia and the likely establishment of a republic there. The overthrow freed the U.S. from the prospect of allying with the tyrannous Czar, and enabled President Wilson to call for a war to make the world safe for democracy.
This cartoon was drawn by Clifford Berryman, one of Washington, DC's best-known cartoonists in the early to mid-1900s. Berryman drew for the Washington Post and Evening Star newspapers. His cartoons touched on a variety of subjects including politics, elections, and both World Wars.
This cartoon is featured in America and the World: Foreign Affairs in Political Cartoons, 1898–1940, a free PDF book from the Center for Legislative Archives at the National Archives.
Two months later, in January, Wilson proposed a peace conference, but the Allies rejected the idea. The situation escalated in early February when Germany announced a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare against neutral shipping. German submarines sank three American ships on March 18, signaling to Wilson that Germany was making war on the United States.
The crossed-out date seen on the calendar page reflects the President’s desire for Congress to assemble as quickly as possible to address the German attacks. This cartoon appeared a day after newspapers reported the overthrow of the Czar of Russia and the likely establishment of a republic there. The overthrow freed the U.S. from the prospect of allying with the tyrannous Czar, and enabled President Wilson to call for a war to make the world safe for democracy.
This cartoon was drawn by Clifford Berryman, one of Washington, DC's best-known cartoonists in the early to mid-1900s. Berryman drew for the Washington Post and Evening Star newspapers. His cartoons touched on a variety of subjects including politics, elections, and both World Wars.
This cartoon is featured in America and the World: Foreign Affairs in Political Cartoons, 1898–1940, a free PDF book from the Center for Legislative Archives at the National Archives.
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. Senate.
National Archives Identifier: 306092
Full Citation: Untitled. [President Calls Congress April 2 to Act on Grave National Policy]; 03/21/1917; Berryman Political Cartoon Collection, 1896 - 1949; Records of the U.S. Senate, Record Group 46; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/president-calls-congress-april, April 30, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.