Transcript DBQ: World War I

Historical Context
When the Great War broke out in the
summer of 1914, Americans were shocked at the
barbarism of modern warfare. They were thankful
for the Atlantic Ocean which separated our country
from the warring nations of Europe. People were
determined to keep out of the conflict and
applauded President Wilson when he asked that
his fellow citizens remain “neutral in fact as well as
in name.”
Historical Context
Through the following months, while national
resolve to remain neutral stayed strong, many
Americans began to choose sides. This was almost
inevitable. Most Americans could trace family roots
to England, Germany, Italy, Eastern Europe, or
other countries or regions then engulfed by war. In
fact, many were themselves immigrants or the
children of immigrants from one of the nations at
war. It was only natural that they still had
emotional ties to their homelands.
Historical Context
Many people, shocked and appalled by Germany’s brutal
invasion of Belgium in the opening weeks of the war, were
firm opponents of the Germans. Many others aligned their
sympathies with France, remembering that the French had
aided us in our war of independence. As American shipping
and trade began to be blocked by England and Germany,
patriotic anger rose. But still, even after German submarine
sank the British liner Lusitania in May 1915, killing over 100
Americans, public opinion still opposed American
involvement in the war. In November 1916, American
determination to stay out of the war expressed itself in
reelecting President Wilson whose campaign slogan was
“He kept us out of War.”
Historical Context
Nonetheless, April 2, 1917 found President Wilson
standing before a joint session of Congress asking
that war be declared against Germany. “ I advise
that the Congress declare the recent course of the
Imperial German government to be, in fact, nothing
less than war against the government and people
of the United States.” Two days later, the Senate
voted 82 to 6 for war. Then, on April 6, the House
of Representatives did the same, voting 373 to 50.
Historical Context
What led the United States to abandon its
neutrality and isolation? What led Americans
into World War I?
DBQ: World War I
Aim: Why did the United States abandon its
neutrality , choosing to enter World War I on
the side of the Allies?
DBQ: World War I
Document 1
According to William Jennings Bryan, why shouldn’t we
loan money to any of the nations at war?
-Secretary of State Bryan was warning President Wilson
against allowing American banks to loan money to any of
the countries at war. He was worried that if American
financial interests became “allied “ with one of these
countries, they would use their influence to support that
country’s war policies in order to ensure repayment of the
loans. Bryan, and many others, feared that “economic ties”
to England and France might eventually lead the United
States into war to protect the loans and other economic
interests.
DBQ: World War I
Document 2
How does above graph support Bryan’s fear?
-This graph supports Bryan’s fear. Between 1914
and 1917 American trade and economic links with
Britain and France rose tremendously, while trade
with Germany fell to virtually nothing. This graph
seems to echo Bryan’s implied question: Will
American investment in the allied nations lead us
into war on their side?
DBQ: World War I
Document 3
According to Lenin, why did the U.S. enter
World War I?
-This 1918 communication by Lenin lends additional
credence to the idea that American banks and other
financial interests drew the United States into the war to
protect their money and enrich American millionaires (It is
good to note how this argument reflects a Marxist viewpoint
and justifies Bolshevik Russia’s decision to drop out of the
war.)
DBQ: World War I
Document 4
Why did the release of the Zimmermann
Note enrage Americans?
-The release of Zimmermann Note in March
1917 enraged Americans; it convinced many
that war could no longer be avoided, and
that Germany was our enemy.
DBQ: World War I
Document 5
According to President Wilson’s war
message, what was the primary cause of
war?
-In this excerpt from President Wilson’s war
message, he pointed to Germany’s
declaration of submarine warfare as the
primary cause of war.
DBQ: World War I
Document 6
Why was Senator George Norris of
Nebraska against voting for war?
-Nebraska Senator George Norris was a
leading isolationist and opponent of war with
Germany. Norris (like the source of
documents 1-3_ saw the influence of big business
and finance behind Wilson’s call for war.
DBQ: World War I
Document 7
According to Ernest R. May, why did the
U.S. enter WWI?
-Historian Ernest May believed that Wilson was a
sincere pacifist whose patience finally ended with
Germany’s declaration of submarine warfare and
with the inevitability of growing public support for
war as American merchant ships were sunk by
German U-boats. The unanimity of Wilson’s cabinet was a
further sign to the president that there was no other choice
but war.
DBQ: World War I