Name
U.S. History
Period
January 6, 2016
PAGE 2
President Wilson’s Speeches
EQ: Why did the U.S enter World War I?
1914: Did
Wilson think
the U.S. should
enter WWI?
 No, (1) U.S. is made up of immigrants from nations that are
at war = taking sides would be difficult to do (2) America
has a responsibility to not be bias in war (3) U.S. needs to
be the peacemakers
1917: Did
Wilson think
the U.S. should
enter WWI?
 Yes, (1) Submarine warfare is attack on all of mankind
because it interferes with trade (2) German attacks are
personal (3) Germany is a threat to the world and
democracy (4) The U.S. needs to fight to protect
democracy, rights, and small nations
What does
Wilson accuse
Germany of
doing?
 Use the 1917 speech to "imagine the setting". (a) What does
Wilson accuse Germany of doing? (b) Do you think this is
a good reason to go to war? (c) What additional information
would you need to have before making a decision?
Why do you
think Wilson
added the last
two paragraphs
of his 1917
speech?
 Re-read the last two paragraphs of the 1917 speech. Why
do you think Wilson added these paragraphs? How do you
think these words made Americans feel?
Summary:
According to
Wilson’s
speeches, why
did the U.S.
enter WWI?
How did
Wilson’s
attitude change
from 1914 to
1917?
Do you trust
Wilson’s
speech and
reasons for
entering
WWI?
Do the
textbook’s
reason for
entering WWI
line up with
Wilson’s
reasons?
Summary: