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Teacher Links: Lesson Plan and Unit Plan This lesson was developed primarily using the ADDIE instructional design model (Analyze/Design/Develop/Implement/Evaluate) |
| Should the United States have entered World War I as it did in 1917,
after three years of remaining neutral? You are going to get the
chance to make up your own mind based on primary source documents.
You will then make your case in a letter to the President, advocating
for the U.S. to either remain neutral or enter the fight.
Read the introduction below and then use the links at the top or bottom of the page to work through the activities. |
Source: FirstWorldWar.com (http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/lusitania.htm)
| On May 7, 1915 a German
U-Boat (submarine) sunk a passenger ship -- the Lusitania -- with a
single torpedo*. On board were civilians crossing the Atlantic,
many of whom were Americans. The ship was also secretly carrying
military equipment to help Britain in the war against the Germans.
The United States was officially neutral at this time -- that is, they
decided to stay out of the war and not fight on either side of the
conflict.
Another significant incident occurred in January 16, 1917. The U.S. was still neutral, but it had been supplying war materials to Britain and its allies for over two years. Germany was worried that the U.S. would enter the war, and it devised a plan where it would help Mexico to attack the United States to reclaim land that Mexico lost to the U.S. in the Mexican-American war. The British intercepted a telegram (the Zimmerman Telegram) and notified the Unites States of this plan. *or possibly two. * * * As you find out more about the sinking of the Lusitania and the Zimmerman telegram, you will have to decide whether or not the United States should have stayed out of the battle or declare war against the Germans. Was the sinking of the Lusitania and the plan that Germany suggested to Mexico, combined with other events, enough to get the U.S. to fight? Was Germany dangerous enough that you would recommend going to war, or was it in the better interests of the United States to stay neutral and avoid the loss of life and money that fighting would require. You will be asked to comment on some of the documents that you see. Afterwards, you will be asked to write a letter the President (Woodrow Wilson) in which you will argue either that the U.S. should stay out of the conflict or that they should go to war. * * * Let's get started! But first, download and print the graphic organizer. Use it to organize your ideas as you watch the video and look at the actually primary source documents surrounding this incident. Think about the reasons for and against going to war based on what you read and see. This will help you when it comes time to write your letter to the President. Click Here to Download the Graphic Organizer
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