Final answer:
President Wilson sought a declaration of war on Germany due to the unrestricted submarine warfare, the Zimmermann Telegram, and the ideological shift after the Russian Revolution, all of which threatened American interests and neutrality.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Senator Robert M. La Follette, President Wilson desired the United States to declare war on Germany due to a series of provocations that included unrestricted submarine warfare, the sinking of American ships, and political pressures at home and abroad. The German Empire's aggressive tactics culminated in a direct threat to American lives and commerce, exemplified by the sinking of the American merchant ship Laconia and several others. The Zimmermann Telegram, which proposed a German-Mexican alliance against the U.S., coupled with the unrestricted submarine warfare, made a powerful argument for the U.S. to enter World War I.
The telegram and Germany's naval policy violated American neutrality and incited public sentiment towards intervention. Moreover, the onset of the Russian Revolution removed an ideological barrier to joining the Allied powers. After significant debate, President Wilson finally led the country into war, citing the need to protect democracy and respond to German aggression.