…this House desires to obtain a full knowledge of all the facts which go to establish whether the particular spot of soil on which the blood of our citizens was so shed, was, or was not, our own soil, at that time…

In 1846, President James K. Polk had asked Congress to declare war with Mexico, he claimed that Mexico had “passed the boundary of the United States … invaded our territory and shed American blood upon America’s soil.” As a result, Congress declared war on May 13. On December 22, 1847, Representative Abraham Lincoln introduced this resolution calling for an investigation of the “spot” where U.S. and Mexican forces had allegedly first clashed.

Resolution introduced by Congressman Abraham Lincoln (Spot Resolution), 12/22/1847, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives (ARC 306605)

On December 8, 1941, the day after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed a joint session of Congress and asked for a declaration of war against Japan. The Senate quickly drafted and unanimously passed this joint resolution. The House voted on the resolution the same afternoon, and passed it 388-1. (The only “no” came from Representative Jeannette Rankin, a well-known pacifist who represented Wyoming.) Senate Joint Resolution 116, Declaring War Against Japan, SEN 77A-B2,12/08/1941, Records of the U.S. Senate (ARC 4477429)
View Separately

On December 8, 1941, the day after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed a joint session of Congress and asked for a declaration of war against Japan. The Senate quickly drafted and unanimously passed this joint resolution. The House voted on the resolution the same afternoon, and passed it 388-1. (The only “no” came from Representative Jeannette Rankin, a well-known pacifist who represented Wyoming.)

Senate Joint Resolution 116, Declaring War Against Japan, SEN 77A-B2,12/08/1941, Records of the U.S. Senate (ARC 4477429)

On June 1, 1812, President James Madison sent Congress a message asking for a declaration of war with Great Britain. The House adopted the war resolution on June 4 by a vote of 79-49, and it was then sent to the Senate for approval. The Senate made amendments to the House war resolution, and voted in favor of the changes on June 17, 19-13. On June 18 the House approved the amendments. President Madison signed the declaration of war on June 18. 

Senate Amendments to the House Declaration of War, HR 12A-B3, 6/17/1812, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives

House Approval of the Senate Amendments to the House Declaration of War, HR 12A-B3, 6/18/1812, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives

preservearchives:

This June marks the 200th anniversary of the declaration of the War of 1812. The “House Declaration of War” of June 4, 1812 is undergoing conservation treatment. The previously laminated document was treated to remove cellulose acetate. After delamination, a conservator repaired tears and filled losses. This ‘during treatment’ photo shows a new paper insert being fitted to fill a loss. Visit the U. S. Capitol Visitors’ Center fall exhibition to see the completed document on display.

todaysdocument: On April 2, 1917, in reaction to Germany’s resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare and the revelation of the Zimmermann telegram, President Woodrow Wilson delivered this address to a joint session of Congress and called for a declaration of war against Germany. The resulting congressional vote brought the United States into World War I. via Our Documents »
Pop-upView Separately

todaysdocument:

On April 2, 1917, in reaction to Germany’s resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare and the revelation of the Zimmermann telegram, President Woodrow Wilson delivered this address to a joint session of Congress and called for a declaration of war against Germany. The resulting congressional vote brought the United States into World War I.

via Our Documents »

The day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, before a Joint Session of Congress, President Roosevelt asked Congress for a declaration of war against Japan. President Roosevelt’s message conveyed the national outrage over the attack by pronouncing December 7, 1941 “a date which will live in infamy.”

Congress quickly adopted the war resolution. As you can see on the tally sheet below, the House had only one dissenting vote. The only no came from Representative Jeannette Rankin (R-MT), a well-known pacifist. The reading clerk taking the roll call later recalled that members were pleading with Rankin to vote present rather than no. Nevertheless, the resolution passed 388-1.

Tally Sheet of the House of Representatives for Declaration of War Against Japan, 12/08/1941

Day of Infamy Speech, 12/8/1941, Records of the U.S. Senate (ARC 595426)

Roll Call Tally Sheet, 12/8/1941, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives (ARC 2600932)