The United States entered World War I on April 6, 1917 with a declaration of war from President Woodrow Wilson. Even before this the likelihood of American involvement was beginning to increase, and the State of Maine began to take action. The National Guard was actively recruiting, and after President Wilson’s address to Congress on April 2, 1917 many Mainers enlisted. By summer, the Maine National Guard was called into Federal service. The Governor and Legislature also took action, with the Legislature passing laws that benefitted those who had enlisted and later establishing aid to those soldiers.