USHS_LM_22.qxp:Layout 1
3/22/07
N O T E B O O K
12:10 PM
Page 209
C H A P T E R
G U I D E
22
From Neutrality to War
Was it in the national interest of the United States to stay
neutral or declare war in 1917?
K e y
C o n t e n t
T e r m s
As you complete the Reading Notes, use these
Key Content Terms in your answers:
Central powers
Sussex pledge
Allied powers
U-boat
preparedness
movement
Lusitania
Zimmermann note
unrestricted
submarine warfare
P R E V I E W
Answer the following questions in your notebook.
1. Read Quote 1 from President Woodrow Wilson.
Identify his position toward World War I in 1914 by
writing “stay neutral” or “declare war” in your notebook. Then identify one or more reasons President
Wilson gave to support his position.
2. Read Quote 2 from President Woodrow Wilson.
Identify his position toward World War I in 1917 by
writing “stay neutral” or “declare war” in your notebook. Then identify one or more reasons President
Wilson gave to support his position.
3. In your notebook, explain what might have happened
in those three years to change President Wilson’s
position.
Quote 1
The effect of war upon the United States 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 United
States must be neutral in fact, as well as in name, during
these days that are to try men’s souls.
—President Woodrow Wilson, August 19, 1914
Quote 2
We are glad . . . to fight thus for the ultimate peace of the
world and for the liberation of its peoples . . . The world
must be made safe for democracy. Its peace must be
planted upon the tested foundations of political liberty.
—President Woodrow Wilson, April 2, 1917
© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute
From Neutrality to War
209
USHS_LM_22.qxp:Layout 1
N o t e b o o k
3/22/07
12:10 PM
G u i d e
R E A D I N G
Page 210
2 2
Section 22.4
N O T E S
Copy the following onto two pages in your notebook.
Section 22.2 The United
States Tries to Stay Neutral
Stay Neutral
Declare War
1. What events in early 1917 caused President Wilson to
ask Congress to declare war?
2. President Wilson said the United States would be
going to war to make the world “safe for democracy.”
How did his critics respond to this reasoning?
P R O C E S S I N G
Section 22.3 Challenges to
the U.S. Policy of Neutrality
Copy the following timeline into your notebook.
Section 22.4 The United
States Declares a “War to
End All Wars”
Read Sections 22.2 to 22.4. After reading each section,
answer the corresponding questions below in your notebook. Then, in the box titled “Stay Neutral,” identify
one or more arguments from that section that could be
used against the United States entering World War I at
this time. In the box titled “Declare War,” identify one
or more arguments that could be used in favor of going
to war at this time.
Section 22.2
1. Why did President Wilson’s decision to stay out of
World War I in 1914 please many Americans?
2. What was the status of combat in Europe in 1914?
What was the status of diplomatic efforts to end the
war at that time?
Lusitania
War
sunk
breaks out
1914
1915
Sussex
pledge
made
Zimmermann
note published
1916
1917
Beginning with 1914, write “Stay Neutral” or “Declare
War” beneath each event to show how you believe the
United States should have reacted to that event. When
and if you decide the United States should have declared
war, write “Fight War” for the remaining events on the
timeline.
After completing the timeline, write a paragraph that
answers the question, Was it in the national interest of
the United States to stay neutral or declare war in 1917?
Make sure your paragraph includes
• a clear topic sentence that communicates the main
idea of your paragraph.
Section 22.3
• one or two pieces of evidence (facts, data, quotes)
from the reading to support your topic sentence.
1. How did the attack on the Lusitania bring the United
States closer to declaring war in 1915?
• one or two sentences that explain how your evidence
supports your topic sentence.
2. Why might the Sussex pledge have helped the United
States stay neutral in 1916?
210 Chapter 22
© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute