WHY DID THE US ENTER WWI AFTER IT HAD DECIDED TO STAY NEUTRAL? Let’s take a look at some documents and see what we can figure out! Stanford University Reading Like a Historian

WOODROW WILSON  Wilson became president of the US in 1912  He won with less than 50% of the popular vote because the Republican Party split into the Progressive Party (Roosevelt) and the Republican Party (Taft)  Wilson was a Democrat from New Jersey, but he won the support of many Progressives because he opposed political machines  Political machine =  As president, he signed some progressive reforms, like the Keating-Owen Child Labor Act, the Clayton Antitrust Act, and then creation of the Federal Trade Commission.  However, he invited controversy because of his views on race. He supported segregation.

DOCUMENTS A AND B DISCUSSION – WILSON’S SPEECHES  According to the second speech, why did the US enter WWI?  How did Wilson’s attitude change from the first speech to the second speech?  Do you trust Wilson’s speech and the reasons he gives for entering WWI?

DOCUMENT C DISCUSSION – US DEPARTMENT OF STATE  What reasons does the Office of the Historian give for why the US entered WWI?  Do these reasons line up with Wilson’s reasons?

DOCUMENT D DISCUSSION – HISTORIAN HOWARD ZINN  Does Zinn agree or disagree with the Department of State?  What is Zinn’s argument? What is his evidence?  Do you find Zinn’s argument convincing? Why or Why not?  Using all of the documents, what would you argue were the reasons for the United States entering WWI?