Why we are at war

A sequence of official communications and an accompanying proclamation present the administration's evolving rationale for abandoning neutrality and entering the European conflict. Beginning with a proposal for an international league to preserve peace, the speeches trace diplomatic ruptures, requests for congressional authority, and the formal acceptance of armed engagement, then conclude with a proclamation of war and a public appeal for national unity and service. The argument combines legal and moral claims about neutral rights and belligerent conduct with a vision of collective security, framing military action as necessary to defend national interests and to help establish institutions that would prevent future wars.