On April 6, 1917, the United States declared war on Germany and joined
World War I. German submarine attacks on American ships in March 1917
were the overt motive for declaring war, but the underlying reasons were
far more complex. Even after the United States officially joined,
Americans were divided on whether they should be a part of it. Americans
were told they were fighting a war for democracy, but with racial
segregation rampant in the United States, new laws against dissent and
espionage being passed, and bankers and industrial leaders gaining
increased influence and power, what did democracy mean? Come On In,
America explores not only how and why the United
States joined World War I, but also the events--at home and
overseas--that changed the course of American history.