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Individual: Read excerpts from Document A, President

Wilson's Declaration of Neutrality (August 19, 1914).

Pairs, T&T: Discuss and record answers to questions 1-3.

Class: Check for understanding.

10 min.

Neutrality Neutrality

George Washington’s Farewell Address (1796) warned the United States to avoid “entangling” political alliances with European nation-states.

At the same time, Washington advocated for continuing and strengthening economic relationships.

Tension: Is it impossible to maintain political neutrality while remaining economically engaged? 3 min.

Tests to Neutrality Tests to Neutrality

T&T: What made it difficult for the United States to maintain its neutrality?

Doc B. Internal/domestic opposition politics: U.S. Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan’s pacifism.

Doc C. British interference with U.S. Merchant Ships, Dec. 26, 1914.

Doc D. German sinking of the Lusitania, May 7, 1915.

Doc E. German sinking of the Sussex, April 19, 1916.

Doc F. The Zimmerman Telegram, January 19, 1917.

Doc G. Unlimited Submarine Warfare, February 1, 1917.

Doc H. Wilson’s “Peace Without Victory” address to the U.S. Senate, January 22, 1917 20 min.

Was U.S. Engagement Was U.S. Engagement Inevitable?Inevitable?

Economic entanglements (Doc C)

German aggression: Lusitania (D), Sussex Pledge (E), resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare (G)

Zimmerman telegram (F)

Idealism: Opportunity to shape a post-war world by spreading American principles of freedom, equality of rights, self-determination (H).

Realism: Opportunity to capitalize on a redrawn world map by exploiting weak countries for natural resources and by asserting global power (George Kennan, Henry Kissinger writing in the 1950’s – 1970’s).

5 min.

Processing (Homework)Processing (Homework)

Essay: Why did the United States abandon its

neutrality and declare war on Germany in 1917? Was Wilsonian neutrality impossible to maintain in World War I?

Five paragraphs that address at least three reasons why U.S. neutrality was im/possible to maintain (plus Into/Conclusion)

Incorporate documents A-G

Claim, Evidence, Analysis Push analysis by answering the questions, “So

what? Why is this historically significant? How does this support my claim and directly answer the prompt?”

Due W, 2/26. No late entries will be accepted.