Final answer:
President Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war against Germany in 1917 due to the Zimmermann telegram, sinking of American ships, and the Russian Revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The last "straw" that convinced President Wilson to ask Congress for a declaration of war against Germany in 1917 was a combination of factors:
- The Zimmermann telegram, intercepted by British cryptographers, which revealed Germany's proposal of a Mexican invasion against the United States
- The sinking of American ships by German submarines
- The outbreak of the Russian Revolution and the subsequent democratic reform in Russia
These events, along with Wilson's belief that a German victory would dangerously alter the balance of power in Europe, led him to seek a declaration of war.