How close were the votes in the House and Senate for the declaration of war against Germany in April 1917?

How close were the votes in the House and Senate for the declaration of war against Germany in April 1917?

• A. The House and Senate just barely reached a majority decision in favor of war.
• B. Small majorities in the House and Senate voted in favor of a declaration of war.
• C. The House and Senate both voted to declare war with large majorities.
• D. The House voted unanimously to declare war but there was stiff opposition in the Senate.

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that Congress gave broad, bipartisan support for entering World War I after Germany renewed submarine warfare. Both chambers moved decisively, showing a national consensus rather than a narrow, contested decision. In the Senate, the measure passed by a wide margin (82 to 6), and in the House it was also a large victory (about 373 to 50). This demonstrates that the declaration of war was supported by large majorities in both legislative bodies, with only a minority opposing. There were dissenters, but not enough to suggest a close or evenly split decision.

The key idea is that Congress gave broad, bipartisan support for entering World War I after Germany renewed submarine warfare. Both chambers moved decisively, showing a national consensus rather than a narrow, contested decision. In the Senate, the measure passed by a wide margin (82 to 6), and in the House it was also a large victory (about 373 to 50). This demonstrates that the declaration of war was supported by large majorities in both legislative bodies, with only a minority opposing. There were dissenters, but not enough to suggest a close or evenly split decision.