APUSH: COACHING AND PREPARATION FOR THE VERSAILLES DBQ
TARGET GOAL FOR THIS WRITING EXERCISE:
We are at the point in our progression where I’m emphasizing more about TECHNIQUE with
your writing – how to structure your response, how to build support using historical detail, and
how to infuse the documents within your answers. We’re not quite to the point (yet) of
“putting it all together,” but we’re getting closer. Because of the emphasis on techniques, I’m
still coaching you quite a bit with background and context. Ultimately, I will take away those
“props” and you will sail off into the ocean! We need to reach our peak during the first part of
May!
My expectation is that prior to working through these notes you will have done three things:
1.
Read the appropriate TEXT background (KCB, aka “Bailey”). Pages 675-690 has the
important background that you need. I cannot emphasize to you enough how
important CONTEXT is when studying history and you can really only get that by
READING.
The word “context” comes from the Latin “contextus” and means to
“weave together.” That’s what we do as historians – we weave together stories from
visual and documentary evidence to FIND
MEANING.
While doing this reading, ZERO IN ON THE VERSAILLES EPISODE. That will
definitely help as you approach this DBQ! That starts on page 685.
2.
Read the POSTED DOCUMENT (APUSH Research Page – Unit 8 Links, toward the
bottom of the box) called “The Great Wars: Background.” This is something I put
together to help you see how we will approach the two wars – I like to teach them as
one conflict interrupted by 20 years of relative calm. This will help you get the BIG
PICTURE!
3.
Read the POSTED DOCUMENT called “US Entry Into World War I.”
This is a
more specific directed reading I put together to help you see the COMPLEXITIES of the
US decision to go to war in 1917. This action by the US, of course, changed the course of
human history and it is FAR FROM SIMPLE!
ONCE YOU HAVE DONE THIS BACKGROUND READING, THE FOLLOWING NOTES WILL MAKE
SENSE.
Page
Woodrow Wilson was a complex figure. He began his Presidency as an idealistic domesticreformer riding the wave of the Progressive Movement. He really had no vision of becoming a
world leader – his focus was on the domestic world. When war broke out in Europe in August
of 1914, Wilson adamantly opposed American involvement. In fact, he won re-election in 1916
on the slogan, “He Kept Us Out of War.” Think about that. So, what happened? Hopefully the
reading you have been doing helps you understand how the US (inevitably?) was drawn into
1
THE 1991 DBQ: WILSON AND THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES
the conflict for any number of reasons (remember – a complex question). Once we were in,
Wilson assumed the position of “Spokesman for the Free World,” and turned the war into a
great crusade for democracy. Further, he injected himself into the situation as “grand
diplomat” who would bring the warring sides together for a lasting peace. He first defined his
mission through something called the FOURTEEN POINTS – you need a solid understanding of
those to work on this question! In turn, the 14 Points became the foundation for the TREATY OF
VERSAILLES (don’t confuse the two). Wilson traveled to Europe after the War to help
negotiate this very famous Treaty. The negotiations were difficult and Wilson made political
mistakes in the process and compromised mightily in order to win approval of something called
the League of Nations – his brainchild for world peace (think of the League as the forerunner to
the United Nations, formed in 1945 – but also keep in mind that we NEVER joined the League of
Nations – that’s central to this story).
THE GROUND RULES FOR THIS EXPERIENCE
1.
You are receiving the question and documents roughly a week in advance of writing so
that you have plenty of time to study them and do the mark-ups. You will turn them in
with your answer and you may write anything on the documents that you want to have
in front of you during the 45 minute class-time writing session. I expect to see a lot of
mark-up work!
SIDEBAR: REMEMBER THE BASIC STEPS FOR DOING ANY DBQ (JUST A REMINDER!)
STEP 1: WHAT IS THIS QUESTION REALLY “ASKING?”
STEP 2: WHAT ARE THE KEY WORDS IN THE QUESTION?
(words you must know the meaning of in order to respond)
STEP 3: BRAINSTORM: WHAT INFORMATION MIGHT APPLY?
STEP 4: WHAT THESIS POSSIBILITIES DO YOU HAVE HERE?
What is a THESIS? Why do history essays require a THESIS? How do you construct a thesis? (hint:
Use the “I believe” method --- “I believe that . . . .”)
Page
2. Remember to START BY ASSUMING YOU HAVE NO DOCUMENTS! How would you
respond to this question WITHOUT ANY DOCUMENTS? This will force you to think
about outside information!
2
STEP 5: SETTING UP THE INTRO PARAGRAPH!
3. Do a CLOSE READ of the question itself. There are terms there that really need
clarification. Let’s start with LIBERAL and CONSERVATIVE. These two words can be
problematic sometimes. A LIBERAL IS ONE THAT ADVOCATES CHANGE FROM THE
EXISTING ORDER OF THINGS. In this case, they would have agreed with Wilson’s vision
of an internationalist approach to world affairs and would certainly favor a League of
Nations. They might, however, be angry with Wilson for the way he approached the
Senate debate. A CONSERVATIVE IS ONE WHO WANTS TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS
QUO. In this case, they would have been very suspicious of Wilson’s approach to world
affairs, particularly because of his insistence on a world organization like the League of
Nations. Let’s do two more: IF SOMEONE IS INEPT, THEY ARE NOT COMPETENT OR
CAPABLE OF DOING SOMETHING. ASSESSING THE VALIDITY OF SOMETHING MEANS
THAT YOU WILL COMMENT ON WHETHER YOU THINK THE ASSERTION (OR PREMISE) IS
TRUE, OR NOT.
4. From your prior training, you should be able to identify THREE THESIS POSSIBILITIES
for this question. The phrase “rather than” gives you the clue to the possibilities.
Remember that as a historian, you weigh the evidence. Was it the opposition forces
that led to the defeat of the Treaty? Was it Wilson’s ineptitude and stubbornness? Or,
was it some of both? That’s the heart of the question.
SIDEBAR: REMINDERS ABOUT YOUR LEAD PARAGRAPHS!
The intro paragraph is the “gateway” to your paper. It needs to be CRISP. No fooling
around. No fluff. A simple starting formula is:
BROAD OPENER + THESIS (what you will defend) + PROOFS (how you will defend it) ---Here’s an example from one we did earlier in the course – look for the different parts:
The reasons Americans chose to rebel in 1776 were varied and complex. While
British policies toward the colonies clearly prompted the Revolution, it was the legacy of
colonial political and religious ideas that served to lay the foundation for our break from
England in the late 18th Century. Individual liberty as both a religious and political idea
created an atmosphere for radical change.
(Can you identify the thesis? Can you tell how I will prove that?)
•
First, some basics: in our system of government, Presidents NEGOTIATE TREATIES with
other countries (through their Secretary of State normally, although in this case Wilson
Page
3
5. NOW FOR SOME HELPFUL HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
was directly involved in the Paris negotiations). THEN, they have to bring the Treaty
back and have it approved by 2/3 of the US Senate (this is called the “Advice and
Consent” power of the Senate. In other words, he cannot simply sign a treaty and it
goes into effect – he has to have that approval from the US Senate, thereby giving the
“people” a voice in the process. So, WHO CONTROLS CONGRESS IS IMPORTANT!
•
Another thing to think about with this question is WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MID-TERM
ELECTIONS OF 1918 (mid-term elections occur half-way through the Presidential term –
Wilson was elected for the second time in November of 1916 and so the 1918 mid-terms
came 6 years into his Presidency). In 1918, he essentially “lost control” of Congress.
Here are some numbers to consider:
Congress from 1917-1919: 216-210 Democrat Party Majority in the House and 53-42 in the Senate.
This was the 65th Congress (we number our Congresses every two years).
Then the mid-terms occurred in 1918 (electing the 66th Congress). Here’s what happened: the
Republicans won both Houses of Congress (240-190 in the House and 49-47 in the Senate). This
Congress would be “sitting” from 1919-1921. In other words, President Wilson would have to
“sell” the Versailles Treaty (which he was negotiating) to a “hostile” Congress. An interesting
question for analysis, then, is WHY did Democrats do so poorly in 1918?
•
Another important aspect to this story is the BREAKDOWN of the Senate that
Wilson was dealing with. Essentially, you can divide the 96 Senators this way as far
as the Treaty was concerned:
48 (50% of them) were in the INTERNATIONALIST camp – that is, they were supportive
of Wilson’s position concerning the Treaty and thought the League of Nations was a
good idea. (HINT: Documents B, C, F, and G reflect this position).
32 (33% of them) were RESERVATIONISTS – that is, they could support the Treaty but
had major reservations about it. (HINT: Documents D and E reflect this view).
Realize, then, that Wilson would need the support of 2/3 of “Senators Present”
when the vote was taken in order gain approval for the Treaty. When the vote was
taken, 49 Senators voted for it and 35 against it (that number equals 84, so 12
Senators didn’t even vote on it – what’s up with that!?). Essentially, Wilson would
have had to swing 7 votes to his side to gain approval! Amazingly, he could not. SO
THE QUESTION IS “WHY NOT?” THAT’S THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS
DBQ!
Page
•
4
16 (17%) of the Senators were IRRECONCILABLE – that is, they were simply not going to
support the Treaty no matter what. Robert LaFollette of Wisconsin, for example, was
in this camp. He had opposed our entry into World War I and, in fact, gave a very
famous speech (In Defense of Free Speech During Wartime) after he had been attacked
for his anti-war vote. HINT: Document A clearly reflects this position.
•
One other note about the documents – H and I represent the LIBERAL view at the
time (again, look at my definitions of liberal/conservative earlier in the notes).
THIS IS A PICTURE OF
WILSON WHILE ON HIS
SPEAKING TOUR IN
SUPPORT OF THE
TREATY OF VERSAILLES.
HE EVENTUALLY
SUFFERED A STROKE
WHILE ON THIS TOUR
AND WAS ESSENTIALLY
AN INVALID FOR THE
LAST 22 MONTHS OF HIS
PRESIDENCY!
What do we make of this highly
intelligent man? Was he the victim of
nasty politics? Or, did he CREATE the
situation?
Page
5
My impersonation of
Woodrow Wilson upon
hearing that the Versailles
Treaty had been rejected by
the US Senate!