Take Home DBQ
1. Change in policy
a. Consistent vs inconsistent with values
b. Statement is true or false
i. Back with reasons for true or false
Doc 1: Context- two years before the war ended and just months after Germany takes back their
submarine warfare policy (May of 1916)
-Inconsistent with American traditional values-we only believe in the power of military now.
-Military is now not subordinate to the people and protecting our government and way of life.
Doc 2: Supports that Wilsons reasons for entering the war were that it would boost American
economy.
Doc 3: POV of W. Wilson on his reasons for entering the war
-Says that they serve no selfish ends… supports the statement is false and that his reasons were
consistent with American values of promoting liberty
-Bias is possible because W. Wilson would never admit that his reasons are for selfish gains and
inconsistence with Amer. values.
Doc 4: Audience: senate
-Says reason for entering the war is not what Wilson said but the real reason is for gold
Doc 6: POV of a pacifist…naturally against the war
-By going over to free other countries we are forfeiting our own rights to freedom and that goes
against the traditional values of America
Doc 7: Audience- the American people
-Underlying message is that the reasons for Wilson to enter the war were unselfish and that they
should support the war because the decision is consistent with the values of America
Were the ideals used to justify U.S. involvement in World War I a disguise for the real
reasons Wilson’s change in policy from neutrality to war and were these reasons a violation of
the traditional values of America? Unfortunately, the facts show that Wilson’s reasons for
entering the war were not because of the sinking of the U.S. ships by German U-boats or the
threat of the Zimmerman Telegram. These were just the items that Wilson publically used to stir
American fears and help him gain the support he needed to go to war. Woodrow Wilson wanted
war because of the economic gain that they could make; the U.S. was already supplying
armaments to European countries and the results were a great economic boost to America,
Wilson figured that entering the war would be an even greater economic boost to America; these
reasons were inconsistent with American traditional values as they were for pure economic gain
and not the spreading of peace and democracy like common Americans were led to believe.
Some defend Woodrow Wilson and claim that his public reasons for entering World War I
were his real reasons and not a façade. Theodore Roosevelt publically addresses his audience of
the entirety of America in his Pledge of Loyalty, and he defends not specifically Truman but the
government in general. His pleas for all Americans to support the government “against our
foreign and domestic foes” falls short in that it does not directly address the reasons for Truman’s
decision to request a declaration for war. Roosevelt addresses government in general but not any
specifics which leaves historians to wonder whether or not he actually approves of Truman’s true
reasons (Doc 7). Woodrow Wilson’s war message to Congress shows the point of view of
Wilson himself on this matter. He claims that America, and by association himself, seeks no
gains from this war other than the world being made safe for democracy. But of course Wilson
would never publically admit that his reasons for wanting to enter the war were for selfish
American gains so he continues to hide behind the false pretense that his decision to go to war is
all for the betterment of the world (Doc 3).
Wilson used the threat of German U-boats and the Zimmerman Telegram, a telegram
from Zimmerman to Mexico that urged Mexico to take back their land in America, as a disguise
for his real reasons for entering the war, money. Senator George Norris stated that, “we are
going into war upon the command of gold.” Norris’s underlying message is that Truman’s real
reason for entering the war was to boost the American economy. Norris targeted senate with his
speech because they were partly at fault for this entrance to war on the account of gold and also
because he believes that senate might be able to influence an American removal from the war
(doc 4). This view is also supported by the numbers from the Bureau of the Census. It shows
that even before the U.S. entered the war the U.S. was profiting greatly from the war in Europe.
Truman figured that if they entered the war they would boost the economy in America by
increasing industry and creating more jobs for citizens and it would also increase exports because
the allied countries would pay America for Arms and food. Also if America was on the winning
side then it could demand reparations from Germany and Japan which would further increase
U.S. revenues. In short this graph proves that the war increased U.S. exports and imports after
they entered the war and that it was the real reason for Truman’s entrance into the war. This
graph targets all Americans as it shows the export and import increase during World War I (Doc
2).
Now, do Wilson’s pseudo- reasons of the Zimmerman Telegram and bringing freedom to
countries coincide with traditional American values? Writer and journalist Oswald Garrison
claims that Wilson’s reasons go against the moral standards of America. In his article Annals of
the American Academy of Political and Social Science, written just months after Germany takes
back their submarine warfare policy (May of 1916) and two years before the war ended, Oswald
reminds Americans that the military should always be subordinate to the citizens and that the
government is flipping the roles of military. He claims our morals have always believed in an
unarmed policy and in democracy but that these reasons for entering the war are totally against
what the forefather thought (Doc 1). Norman Thomas shows the point of view of a pacifist on
the reasons for entering World War I. Being a pacifist he is naturally against the war, but instead
of just arguing that the war is wrong he claims that by bringing war to a country in order to free it
we are forfeiting our own right to freedom by sacrificing our own freedoms. In America one of
the rights that Americans hold most dear is the right to freedom. By entering this war we release
our right to that freedom and that is against the values of all patriots across the country (Doc 6).
These two men address the public reasons that Truman gave for the entrance to World War I.
They show that even these reasons are against the traditional moral standards and values of
Americans.
Truman’s true reason for entering the war is even more against these American
values. If entering a war to bring freedom forfeits our own freedom and goes against American
value then how can pure economic gain stand up to the high values that Americans have?
There is a trend throughout all of history of wars fought for economic reasons. The
attack on Pearl Harbor is a perfect example as Japan sought to knock America out of the war
quickly and seize oil, metal and food commodity assets in South Asia. Beyond the casualties of
conflict, the Japanese enslaved millions of people to extract and refine these commodities
resulting in much more suffering and death. Also, the American Revolution can be seen as a
battle between Britain and France over rich East and West Indies trade routes, in which case the
American Revolution is another example of a war fought over economic gains. So although
Truman’s real reason for entering the war was a poor reason, it is clear to see that history was yet
again repeating itself. His public reasons were a lie to cover up his true motivation for getting
into world war I and his fake and true reasons alike failed to live up to the high traditional values
of the American people.
a. Consistent vs inconsistent with values
b. Statement is true or false
i. Back with reasons for true or false
Doc 1: Context- two years before the war ended and just months after Germany takes back their
submarine warfare policy (May of 1916)
-Inconsistent with American traditional values-we only believe in the power of military now.
-Military is now not subordinate to the people and protecting our government and way of life.
Doc 2: Supports that Wilsons reasons for entering the war were that it would boost American
economy.
Doc 3: POV of W. Wilson on his reasons for entering the war
-Says that they serve no selfish ends… supports the statement is false and that his reasons were
consistent with American values of promoting liberty
-Bias is possible because W. Wilson would never admit that his reasons are for selfish gains and
inconsistence with Amer. values.
Doc 4: Audience: senate
-Says reason for entering the war is not what Wilson said but the real reason is for gold
Doc 6: POV of a pacifist…naturally against the war
-By going over to free other countries we are forfeiting our own rights to freedom and that goes
against the traditional values of America
Doc 7: Audience- the American people
-Underlying message is that the reasons for Wilson to enter the war were unselfish and that they
should support the war because the decision is consistent with the values of America
Were the ideals used to justify U.S. involvement in World War I a disguise for the real
reasons Wilson’s change in policy from neutrality to war and were these reasons a violation of
the traditional values of America? Unfortunately, the facts show that Wilson’s reasons for
entering the war were not because of the sinking of the U.S. ships by German U-boats or the
threat of the Zimmerman Telegram. These were just the items that Wilson publically used to stir
American fears and help him gain the support he needed to go to war. Woodrow Wilson wanted
war because of the economic gain that they could make; the U.S. was already supplying
armaments to European countries and the results were a great economic boost to America,
Wilson figured that entering the war would be an even greater economic boost to America; these
reasons were inconsistent with American traditional values as they were for pure economic gain
and not the spreading of peace and democracy like common Americans were led to believe.
Some defend Woodrow Wilson and claim that his public reasons for entering World War I
were his real reasons and not a façade. Theodore Roosevelt publically addresses his audience of
the entirety of America in his Pledge of Loyalty, and he defends not specifically Truman but the
government in general. His pleas for all Americans to support the government “against our
foreign and domestic foes” falls short in that it does not directly address the reasons for Truman’s
decision to request a declaration for war. Roosevelt addresses government in general but not any
specifics which leaves historians to wonder whether or not he actually approves of Truman’s true
reasons (Doc 7). Woodrow Wilson’s war message to Congress shows the point of view of
Wilson himself on this matter. He claims that America, and by association himself, seeks no
gains from this war other than the world being made safe for democracy. But of course Wilson
would never publically admit that his reasons for wanting to enter the war were for selfish
American gains so he continues to hide behind the false pretense that his decision to go to war is
all for the betterment of the world (Doc 3).
Wilson used the threat of German U-boats and the Zimmerman Telegram, a telegram
from Zimmerman to Mexico that urged Mexico to take back their land in America, as a disguise
for his real reasons for entering the war, money. Senator George Norris stated that, “we are
going into war upon the command of gold.” Norris’s underlying message is that Truman’s real
reason for entering the war was to boost the American economy. Norris targeted senate with his
speech because they were partly at fault for this entrance to war on the account of gold and also
because he believes that senate might be able to influence an American removal from the war
(doc 4). This view is also supported by the numbers from the Bureau of the Census. It shows
that even before the U.S. entered the war the U.S. was profiting greatly from the war in Europe.
Truman figured that if they entered the war they would boost the economy in America by
increasing industry and creating more jobs for citizens and it would also increase exports because
the allied countries would pay America for Arms and food. Also if America was on the winning
side then it could demand reparations from Germany and Japan which would further increase
U.S. revenues. In short this graph proves that the war increased U.S. exports and imports after
they entered the war and that it was the real reason for Truman’s entrance into the war. This
graph targets all Americans as it shows the export and import increase during World War I (Doc
2).
Now, do Wilson’s pseudo- reasons of the Zimmerman Telegram and bringing freedom to
countries coincide with traditional American values? Writer and journalist Oswald Garrison
claims that Wilson’s reasons go against the moral standards of America. In his article Annals of
the American Academy of Political and Social Science, written just months after Germany takes
back their submarine warfare policy (May of 1916) and two years before the war ended, Oswald
reminds Americans that the military should always be subordinate to the citizens and that the
government is flipping the roles of military. He claims our morals have always believed in an
unarmed policy and in democracy but that these reasons for entering the war are totally against
what the forefather thought (Doc 1). Norman Thomas shows the point of view of a pacifist on
the reasons for entering World War I. Being a pacifist he is naturally against the war, but instead
of just arguing that the war is wrong he claims that by bringing war to a country in order to free it
we are forfeiting our own right to freedom by sacrificing our own freedoms. In America one of
the rights that Americans hold most dear is the right to freedom. By entering this war we release
our right to that freedom and that is against the values of all patriots across the country (Doc 6).
These two men address the public reasons that Truman gave for the entrance to World War I.
They show that even these reasons are against the traditional moral standards and values of
Americans.
Truman’s true reason for entering the war is even more against these American
values. If entering a war to bring freedom forfeits our own freedom and goes against American
value then how can pure economic gain stand up to the high values that Americans have?
There is a trend throughout all of history of wars fought for economic reasons. The
attack on Pearl Harbor is a perfect example as Japan sought to knock America out of the war
quickly and seize oil, metal and food commodity assets in South Asia. Beyond the casualties of
conflict, the Japanese enslaved millions of people to extract and refine these commodities
resulting in much more suffering and death. Also, the American Revolution can be seen as a
battle between Britain and France over rich East and West Indies trade routes, in which case the
American Revolution is another example of a war fought over economic gains. So although
Truman’s real reason for entering the war was a poor reason, it is clear to see that history was yet
again repeating itself. His public reasons were a lie to cover up his true motivation for getting
into world war I and his fake and true reasons alike failed to live up to the high traditional values
of the American people.