Defenders of Democracy

The opening of this work is the full text of a pivotal wartime address delivered to Congress in April 1917, just before the United States entered the Great War. In it, the president lays out the stark reality of unrestricted submarine warfare and its impact on innocent civilians, arguing that the attacks violate long‑standing principles of international law. The speech captures the tension of a nation forced to choose between neutrality and a defense of human rights.

As a listener, you’ll hear the measured rhetoric of a leader weighing the costs of war against the moral imperative to protect life, set against vivid descriptions of ships sinking without warning. The narrative provides a clear window into the political and ethical debates that shaped America’s decision to join the fight, while also reflecting the broader struggle for democracy worldwide. The recording preserves the original cadence and gravitas, allowing the audience to feel the seriousness of the moment without revealing later developments of the conflict.