NEUTRALITY
WP: Define the word neutrality.
Free Write: Do you think the United States has a global
responsibility to come to the aid of warring nations or do you think
they should remain neutral?
Class Discussion of Neutrality and the U.S. role in the world
Put up overhead of headlines- Ask students to imagine they woke
up this morning to these headlines. What would be their reaction.
Why? Do you think the people in 1914 felt the same way?
Why/why not?
-some Americans felt personally involved why?
A: more than 1/3 of nations 92 million people were first or second
generation immigrants who still felt ties to their old countries.
about a 1/4 of these were Germans but most Americans
•
favored the Allies
Germany ruled by Kaiser Wilhelm or an autocrat: a ruler with
•
unlimited power
•
In the end, America declares neutrality. Why would you do
this?
A: nations business interest - trade and investments with both
sides
TWO MOVEMENTS EMERGED
1) Preparedness Movement
as much as business leaders wanted to remain neutral they
•
also felt like the US should still prepare for war “just in
case”
President Wilson agreed
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set up patriotic education and national sentiment
training camps
2) Peace Movement
•
consisted of former populists, some progressives, social
reformers and women
•
women did a lot of marches and campaigning for peace
Activity: Read Thoughts of War / answer questions as a class
Click here for article
Assignment: Identifying Alternative (next page)
Return to Table of Contents Page
IDENTIFYING ALTERNATIVES
Name: __________________________________
Identifying alternatives means finding one or more possible solutions to a problem. The passages on
this page make the case for two responses the United States might have made to war. Passage A
presents the views of President Woodrow Wilson as stated in August 1914. Passage B, which was
published in January 1915, presents the thoughts of former President Theodore Roosevelt.
Use the following steps to identify and analyze the alternatives presented in the passages.
PASSAGE A:
“My thought is of America...This great country of ours...should show herself in this time of peculiar trial of a Nation fit beyond
other to exhibit the fine poise of undisturbed judgement, the dignity of self-control, the efficiency of dispassionate (unemotional) action; a
nation that neither sits in judgement upon others nor is disturbed in her own counsels and which keeps herself fit and free to do what is hones
and disinterested an truly serviceable for the peace of the world.”
Woodrow Wilson, Appeal for Neutrality, August 19, 1914
PASSAGE B:
“Our true course should be to judge each nation on its conduct, unhesitatingly to antagonize every nation that does ill at the point
it does it. And equally without hesitation to act...
One of the greatest of international duties ought to be the protection of small, highly civilized, well-behaved and self respecting
states from oppression and conquest by their powerful military neighbors...
I feel in the strongest way that we should have interfered, at least to the extent of the most emphatic diplomatic protest and at the
very outset–and then by whatever further action was necessary–(when Germany invaded Belgium)”.
Theodore Roosevelt, America and the World War, 1915
IDENTIFY THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM
1) What is the issue that both passages address?
2) Does each passage present the same approach to the problem?
IDENTIFY THE SOLUTIONS PROPOSED IN THE TWO PASSAGES
3) What does Passage A suggest is the proper response of the United States to the war raging in
Europe?
4) How does Passage B propose that the U.S. respond to the war?
5) In what ways are these two view points similar or different?
EVALUATE THE POTENTIAL EFFECTIVENESS OF EACH VIEW
6) What difficulties do you see in Wilson’s suggestion that the United States not judge the
actions of other nations?
7) What might happen if the U.S. acts in a “disinterested” way as Wilson suggests?
8) Does Roosevelt make clear what he means when he refers to a nation that “does ill”?
9) Does Roosevelt explain the basis by which nations should be judged “highly civilized” or “well
behaved”?
CONSIDER OTHER ALTERNATIVES
10) What should be the goal of the United states in responding to the war in Europe?
11) What steps are most likely to achieve that goal?