<P> Randolph Bourne criticized the moralist philosophy claiming it was a justification by American intellectual and power elites, like President Wilson, for going to war unnecessarily . He argues that the push for war started with the Preparedness movement, fueled by big business . While big business would not push much further than Preparedness, benefitting the most from neutrality, the movement would eventually evolve into a war - cry, led by war - hawk intellectuals under the guise of moralism . Bourne believes elites knew full well what going to war would entail and the price in American lives it would cost . If American elites could portray the United States' role in the war as noble, they could convince the generally isolationist American public war would be acceptable . </P> <P> Above all, American attitudes towards Germany focused on the U-boats (submarines), which sank the Lusitania in 1915 and other passenger ships "without warning". That appeared to Americans as an unacceptable challenge to America's rights as a neutral country, and as an unforgivable affront to humanity . After repeated diplomatic protests, Germany agreed to stop . But in 1917 the Germany military leadership decided that "military necessity" dictated the unrestricted use of their submarines . The Kaiser's advisors felt America was enormously powerful economically but too weak militarily to make a difference . </P> <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>

Define three reasons the united states finally decided to take a military role in wwi