Summary: In 1917, President Woodrow Wilson declared that neutrality in the Great War was "no longer feasible" and that the U.S. had to intervene to make the world "safe for democracy." What changed between 1914 and 1917 that caused the U.S. to enter WWI? In this lesson, students address this question as they corroborate a textbook account with two documents: a speech by President Wilson and an excerpt from Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States.
Overarching Questions:
- CIVICS: How well does the government balance individual rights and the common good, including the need to maintain order, safety and a healthy environment, during this time period?
- CIVICS: Have individuals and groups influenced public policy during this time period? If so, how and what has been the impact?
NJ Student Learning Standards for Social Studies:
- 6.1.12.HistoryCC.7.a: Take a position based on evidence that evaluates the effectiveness of Woodrow Wilson's leadership during and immediately after WWI and compare it to another president's wartime leadership
- 6.1.12.HistoryCA.7.b: Analyze the reasons for the policy of neutrality regarding World War I and explain why the United States eventually entered the war.
Link to Lesson: U.S. Entry into WWI | Digital Inquiry Group ADD Conflict Resolution in US History activity on this topic