<P> On April 2, 1917, Wilson asked a special joint session of Congress to declare war on the German Empire, stating, "We have no selfish ends to serve". To make the conflict seem like a better idea, he painted the conflict idealistically, stating that the war would "make the world safe for democracy" and later that it would be a "war to end war". The United States had a moral responsibility to enter the war, Wilson proclaimed . The future of the world was being determined on the battlefield, and American national interest demanded a voice . Wilson's definition of the situation won wide acclaim, and, indeed, has shaped America's role in world and military affairs ever since . Wilson believed that if the Central Powers won, the consequences would be bad for the United States . Germany would have dominated the continent and perhaps would gain control of the seas as well . Latin America could well have fallen under Berlin's control . The dream of spreading democracy, liberalism, and independence would have been shattered . On the other hand, if the Allies had won without help, there was a danger they would carve up the world without regard to American commercial interests . They were already planning to use government subsidies, tariff walls, and controlled markets to counter the competition posed by American businessmen . The solution was a third route, a "peace without victory", according to Wilson . </P> <P> On April 6, 1917, Congress declared war . In the Senate, the resolution passed 82 to 6, with Senators Harry Lane, William J. Stone, James Vardaman, Asle Gronna, Robert M. La Follette, Sr., and George W. Norris voting against it . In the House, the declaration passed 373 to 50, with Claude Kitchin, a senior Democrat, notably opposing it . Another opponent was Jeannette Rankin, who alone voted against entry into both World War I and World War II . Nearly all of the opposition came from the West and the Midwest . </P> <P> The United States Senate, in a 74 to 0 vote, declared war on Austria - Hungary on December 7, 1917, citing Austria - Hungary's severing of diplomatic relations with the United States, its use of unrestricted submarine warfare and its alliance with Germany . The declaration passed in the United States House of Representatives by a vote of 365 to 1 . </P>

Which policies kept the united states from entering world war 1 in its first three years