text: why did the us go to war during world war one..?   entry of the united states   president wilson before congress, announcing the break in official relations with germany on february 3, 1917.america's policy of insisting on neutral rights while also trying to broker a peace resulted in tensions with both berlin and london. u.s. president woodrow wilson repeatedly warned that he would not tolerate unrestricted submarine warfare, and the germans repeatedly promised to stop. a proposal to mexico to join the war against the allies was exposed in february, bringing war closer. (see zimmermann telegram). after further u-boat (german submarines) attacks on american merchant ships, wilson requested that congress declare war on germany, which it did on april 6, 1917 (see: woodrow wilson declares war on germany on wikisource). the u.s. house of representatives approved the war resolution 373-50, the u.s. senate 82-6, with opposition coming mostly from german american districts. wilson hoped war could be avoided with austria-hungary; however, when it kept its loyalty to germany, the u.s. declared war on austria-hungary in december 1917.  hope that helps ~a~