U.S. History
Social Studies
Unit: 04 Lesson: 03
Primary Sources on World War I
The United States struggled to stay out of European affairs and World War One. U.S.
industrialization and expansion in the 19th Century made it more important to global
affairs, especially in Europe. When World War One broke out, the U.S. remained
neutral. The U.S. supported the Allies, German submarine warfare threatened U.S.
ships and the Zimmerman telegram led to U.S. involvement in WWI.
Analyze the following documents to formulate a response to the following question:
Did the U.S. struggle to maintain neutrality or seek to establish world dominance
in World War I?
DOCUMENT #1:
Wilson’s Fourteen Points: http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=62
1. How does Wilson’s Fourteen Points define the American position?
2. How does the document reflect George Washington’s warning about fearing
“entangling alliances”?
DOCUMENT #2:
Henry Cabot Lodge’s reservations about the Treaty of Versailles:
http://media.nara.gov/Public_Vaults/11958.pdf
1. Does Senator Lodge support or oppose the Treaty?
2. Are American security or sovereignty at stake in Senator Lodge’s opinion? Why?
DOCUMENT #3:
The Past is Behind Us, The Future is Ahead.
http://docsteach.org/documents/54177/detail?
menu=closed&mode=search&sortBy=relevance&q=world+war+1&commit=Go&page=4
1. How does this poster propose to “make things better”?
2. How might this poster impact Americans on the home front – to remain neutral or
get involved in the war effort?
DOCUMENT #4:
Telegram from Acting Secretary of State Frank L. Polk to the American Embassy in
Mexico City: http://docsteach.org/documents/302023/detail?
menu=closed&mode=search&sortBy=relevance&q=neutrality&commit=Go&page
=1
1. How did the actions of warring nations impact American neutrality?
2. How was President Wilson’s position impacted by receiving this telegram?
3. How did the American public respond to this event?
©2012, TESCCC
08/14/12
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