The year: 1917. Cleveland is the sixth largest city in the United States.
The University of Oregon defeats the University of Pennsylvania in college football's third ever rose bowl.
Jeannette Rankin of Montana becomes the first female member of the US House of Representatives.
And on April 2, 1917 - President Woodrow Wilson asks congress for a declaration of war on Germany.
Four days later, the United States enters World War I.
The events that followed would transform this country into a dominant player on the world stage.
Now 100 years later, that story is being told with the help of unpublished diaries, memoirs, and letters in a new three part, six hour documentary on PBS American Experience's 'The Great War' begins tonight at 9 pm.