United States declaration of war on Germany (1941)

Declaration of state of war with Germany
Great Seal of the United States
Long titleJoint Resolution "Declaring that a state of war exists between the Government of Germany and the Government and the people of the United States and making provision to prosecute the same"
Enacted bythe 77th United States Congress
EffectiveDecember 11, 1941
Citations
Public lawPub. L. 77–331
Statutes at Large55 Stat. 796
Legislative history
  • Introduced in the Senate as S.J.Res.119

On December 11, 1941, the United States Congress declared war on Germany (Pub. L. 77–331, Sess. 1, ch. 564, 55 Stat. 796), hours after Germany declared war on the United States after the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Empire of Japan.[1] The vote was approved unanimously by both houses of Congress; 88–0 in the Senate and 393–0 in the House.

Text

Seventy-Seventh Congress of the United States of America; At the First Session Begun and held at the City of Washington, on Friday, the third day of January, 1941.

JOINT RESOLUTION Declaring That a State of War Exists Between The Government of Germany and the Government and the People of the United States and Making Provisions To Prosecute The Same

Whereas the Government of Germany has formally declared war against the Government and the people of the United States of America:

Therefore be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the state of war between the United States and the Government of Germany which has thus been thrust upon the United States is hereby formally declared; and the President is hereby authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of the United States and the resources of the Government to carry on war against the Government of Germany; and, to bring the conflict to a successful termination, all of the resources of the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States.

(Signed) Sam Rayburn, Speaker of the House of Representatives

(Signed) H. A. Wallace, Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate

Approved December 11, 1941 3:05 PM E.S.T.

(Signed) Franklin D. Roosevelt[2]

See also

President Roosevelt signing the declaration of war against Germany. Senator Tom Connally stands by holding a watch to fix the exact time of the declaration.

References

  1. ^ "Joint Resolution Declaring That a State of War Exists Between The Government of Germany and the Government and the People of the United States and Making Provision To Prosecute The Same, 11 December 1941". Retrieved July 14, 2010.
  2. ^ 77th U.S. Congress. "Joint Resolution 119 of December 11, 1941, declaration of war on Germany" (jpg). U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved March 24, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) (Pub. L. 77–331, 55 Stat. 796, enacted December 11, 1941)