DBQ QUESTION: Why did the US enter World War I on the …



Name Period Date

 DBQ QUESTION: Why did the US enter World War I on the side of the Allies?

|DOCUMENT A |

|"My fellow countrymen: I suppose that every thoughtful man in America has asked himself, during these last troubled weeks, what influence the European War|

|may exert upon the United States, and I take the liberty of addressing a few words to you in order to point out that it is entirely within our own choice |

|what its’ effects upon us will be and to urge very earnestly upon you the sort of speech and conduct which will best safeguard the Nation against distress|

|and disaster. |

|The effect of the war upon the United Sates will depend upon what American citizens say and do. Every man who really loves America will act and speak in |

|the true spirit of neutrality, which is the spirit of impartiality and fairness and friendliness to all concerned. The spirit of the nation in this |

|critical matter will be determined largely by what individuals and society and those gathered in public meetings do and say, upon what newspapers and |

|magazines contain, upon what ministers utter at their pulpits, and men proclaim as their opinions on the street…" |

|Source:  President Woodrow Wilson, August 19, 1914--Message to U.S. Senate. |

|DOCUMENT B |

|United States Exports to Europe 1910-1915 |

|Numbers represent dollars (in millions) |

|[pic] |

|DOCUMENT C |

|          "In view of recent acts of the German authorities in violation of American rights on the high seas which culminated in the torpedoing and|

|sinking of the British steamship Lusitania on May 7,1915, by which over 100 American citizens lost their lives, it is clearly wise and desirable |

|that the government of the United States and the Imperial German Government should come to a clear and full understanding as to the grave situation|

|which has resulted." |

|Source:  May13,1915- a letter from Secretary of State Lansing to United States Ambassador to Germany Gerard. |

 

|DOCUMENT D |

|          "The present war must be ended; but we owe it to candor and to a just regard for the opinion of mankind to say that, so far as our |

|participation in guarantees of future peace is concerned, it makes a great deal of difference in what way and upon what terms it is ended… it must |

|be a peace without victory. Victory would mean peace forced upon the loser, a victor’s terms imposed upon the vanquished. It would be accepted |

|humiliation, under duress, at an intolerable sacrifice, and would leave a sting, a resentment, a bitter memory upon which terms of peace would rest,|

|not permanently but only as upon quicksand. Only a peace between equals can last. Only a peace the very principle of which is equality and a common |

|participation in a common benefit. The right state of mind, the right feeling between nations, it is necessary for a lasting peace as is the just |

|settlement of vexed questions of territory or of racial and national allegiance. |

|Source:  Woodrow Wilson- speech to U.S. Senate on January 22,1917. |

 

|DOCUMENT E |

|          "On the first of February we intend to begin submarine warfare unrestricted. In spite of this it is our intention to keep neutral the |

|United States of America. If this attempt is not successful we propose an alliance on the following basis with Mexico: That we shall make war |

|together and together make peace. We shall give general financial support, and it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in |

|New Mexico, Texas and Arizona. The details are left for your settlement. You are instructed to inform the President of Mexico of the above as soon|

|as it is certain there will be an outbreak of war with the United States…Please call to the attention of the President of Mexico that the |

|employment of ruthless submarine warfare now promises to compel England to make peace in a few months. |

|Source:  Note from German Foreign Secretary Arthur Zimmerman to German Ambassador to Mexico (written January 19,1917 in Berlin). Intercepted and |

|released on March 1, 1917 by British Naval intelligence. |

 

|DOCUMENT F |

|          "Neutrality is no longer feasible or desirable where the peace of the world is involved and the freedom of its peoples, and the menace to|

|that peace and freedom lies in existence of autocratic governments backed by organized force which is controlled wholly by their will, not by the |

|will of the people. We have seen the last of neutrality in these circumstances…the world must be made safe for democracy: its peace must be planted|

|upon the tested foundation of liberty. We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion. We seek no indemnities for ourselves, |

|no material compensation for the sacrifices we shall freely make. We are but one of the champions of the rights of mankind. We shall be satisfied |

|when those have been made as secure as the faith and the freedom of nations can make them." |

|Source:  Woodrow Wilson- speech to U.S. Senate on January 22,1917. |

 

|DOCUMENT G |

|          " The failure to treat the belligerent nations of Europe alike, the failure to reject the unlawful "war zones" of both Germany and |

|Great Britain is wholly unaccountable for our present dilemma. We should not seek to hide our blunder behind the smoke of battle, to inflame the|

|minds of our people by half-truths into the frenzy of war in order that they may never appreciate the real cause until it is too late. I do not |

|believe that our national honor is served by such a course. The right way is the honorable way. One alternative is to admit our initial blunder |

|to enforce our rights against Great Britain as we have enforced our rights against Germany; demand that both those nations shall respect our |

|neutral rights upon the high seas to the letter; and give notice that we will enforce those rights from that time forth against any belligerents|

|and then live up to that notice. The other alternative is to withdraw our commerce from both. The mere suggestion that food supplies would be |

|withdrawn from both sides impartially would compel belligerents to observe the principles of freedom of the seas for neutral commerce." |

|Source:  Senator Robert M. La Follette--address to the Senate on April 4, 1917. |

 

Name Period Date

 DBQ QUESTION: Why did the US enter World War I on the side of the Allies?

|DOCUMENT A |

|"My fellow countrymen: I suppose that every thoughtful man in America has asked himself, during these last troubled weeks, what influence the European War|

|may exert upon the United States, and I take the liberty of addressing a few words to you in order to point out that it is entirely within our own choice |

|what its’ effects upon us will be and to urge very earnestly upon you the sort of speech and conduct which will best safeguard the Nation against distress|

|and disaster. |

|The effect of the war upon the United Sates will depend upon what American citizens say and do. Every man who really loves America will act and speak in |

|the true spirit of neutrality, which is the spirit of impartiality and fairness and friendliness to all concerned. The spirit of the nation in this |

|critical matter will be determined largely by what individuals and society and those gathered in public meetings do and say, upon what newspapers and |

|magazines contain, upon what ministers utter at their pulpits, and men proclaim as their opinions on the street…" |

|Source:  President Woodrow Wilson, August 19, 1914--Message to U.S. Senate. |

|DOCUMENT B |

|United States Exports to Europe 1910-1915 |

|Numbers represent dollars (in millions) |

|[pic] |

|DOCUMENT C |

|          "In view of recent acts of the German authorities in violation of American rights on the high seas which culminated in the torpedoing and|

|sinking of the British steamship Lusitania on May 7,1915, by which over 100 American citizens lost their lives, it is clearly wise and desirable |

|that the government of the United States and the Imperial German Government should come to a clear and full understanding as to the grave situation|

|which has resulted." |

|Source:  May13,1915- a letter from Secretary of State Lansing to United States Ambassador to Germany Gerard. |

 

|DOCUMENT D |

|          "The present war must be ended; but we owe it to candor and to a just regard for the opinion of mankind to say that, so far as our |

|participation in guarantees of future peace is concerned, it makes a great deal of difference in what way and upon what terms it is ended… it must |

|be a peace without victory. Victory would mean peace forced upon the loser, a victor’s terms imposed upon the vanquished. It would be accepted |

|humiliation, under duress, at an intolerable sacrifice, and would leave a sting, a resentment, a bitter memory upon which terms of peace would rest,|

|not permanently but only as upon quicksand. Only a peace between equals can last. Only a peace the very principle of which is equality and a common |

|participation in a common benefit. The right state of mind, the right feeling between nations, it is necessary for a lasting peace as is the just |

|settlement of vexed questions of territory or of racial and national allegiance. |

|Source:  Woodrow Wilson- speech to U.S. Senate on January 22,1917. |

 

|DOCUMENT E |

|          "On the first of February we intend to begin submarine warfare unrestricted. In spite of this it is our intention to keep neutral the |

|United States of America. If this attempt is not successful we propose an alliance on the following basis with Mexico: That we shall make war |

|together and together make peace. We shall give general financial support, and it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in |

|New Mexico, Texas and Arizona. The details are left for your settlement. You are instructed to inform the President of Mexico of the above as soon|

|as it is certain there will be an outbreak of war with the United States…Please call to the attention of the President of Mexico that the |

|employment of ruthless submarine warfare now promises to compel England to make peace in a few months. |

|Source:  Note from German Foreign Secretary Arthur Zimmerman to German Ambassador to Mexico (written January 19,1917 in Berlin). Intercepted and |

|released on March 1, 1917 by British Naval intelligence. |

 

|DOCUMENT F |

|          "Neutrality is no longer feasible or desirable where the peace of the world is involved and the freedom of its peoples, and the menace to|

|that peace and freedom lies in existence of autocratic governments backed by organized force which is controlled wholly by their will, not by the |

|will of the people. We have seen the last of neutrality in these circumstances…the world must be made safe for democracy: its peace must be planted|

|upon the tested foundation of liberty. We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion. We seek no indemnities for ourselves, |

|no material compensation for the sacrifices we shall freely make. We are but one of the champions of the rights of mankind. We shall be satisfied |

|when those have been made as secure as the faith and the freedom of nations can make them." |

|Source:  Woodrow Wilson- speech to U.S. Senate on January 22,1917. |

 

|DOCUMENT G |

|          " The failure to treat the belligerent nations of Europe alike, the failure to reject the unlawful "war zones" of both Germany and |

|Great Britain is wholly unaccountable for our present dilemma. We should not seek to hide our blunder behind the smoke of battle, to inflame the|

|minds of our people by half-truths into the frenzy of war in order that they may never appreciate the real cause until it is too late. I do not |

|believe that our national honor is served by such a course. The right way is the honorable way. One alternative is to admit our initial blunder |

|to enforce our rights against Great Britain as we have enforced our rights against Germany; demand that both those nations shall respect our |

|neutral rights upon the high seas to the letter; and give notice that we will enforce those rights from that time forth against any belligerents|

|and then live up to that notice. The other alternative is to withdraw our commerce from both. The mere suggestion that food supplies would be |

|withdrawn from both sides impartially would compel belligerents to observe the principles of freedom of the seas for neutral commerce." |

|Source:  Senator Robert M. La Follette--address to the Senate on April 4, 1917. |

 

|DOCUMENT H |

|[pic] |

|Source:  Committee for public information poster-1917. |

|DOCUMENT I |

|Johnnie get your gun, get your gun, get your gun, |

|Take it on the run, on the run, on the run; |

|Hear them calling you and me; |

|Every son of liberty. |

|Hurry right away, no delay, go today, |

|Make your daddy glad, to have such a lad, |

|Tell your sweetheart not to pine, |

|To be proud her boy’s in line. |

| |

|Chorus: Over there, over there |

|Send the word, send the word over there, |

|The Yanks are coming, the Yanks are coming, |

|The drums rum-tum tumming everywhere |

|So prepare, say a prayer, |

|Send the word, send the word to beware, |

|We’ll be over, we’re coming over, |

|And we won’t come back till it’s over, over there. |

|Source:  "Over There," written by George M. Cohan |

|(Allied Expeditionary Force marching song). |

 

|DOCUMENT H |

|[pic] |

|Source:  Committee for public information poster-1917. |

|DOCUMENT I |

|Johnnie get your gun, get your gun, get your gun, |

|Take it on the run, on the run, on the run; |

|Hear them calling you and me; |

|Every son of liberty. |

|Hurry right away, no delay, go today, |

|Make your daddy glad, to have such a lad, |

|Tell your sweetheart not to pine, |

|To be proud her boy’s in line. |

| |

|Chorus: Over there, over there |

|Send the word, send the word over there, |

|The Yanks are coming, the Yanks are coming, |

|The drums rum-tum tumming everywhere |

|So prepare, say a prayer, |

|Send the word, send the word to beware, |

|We’ll be over, we’re coming over, |

|And we won’t come back till it’s over, over there. |

|Source:  "Over There," written by George M. Cohan |

|(Allied Expeditionary Force marching song). |

 

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