Did the United States make the right decision in entering the Great War in Europe?
It is February 1, 1917. President Wilson must decide whether
to ask Congress for a declaration of war against Germany. Germany has sunk
several American ships, and the United States government (but not the general
population) has learned of “the Zimmerman telegram.” The United States army has
met with frustration in Mexico. Many Americans are insisting that the US remain
neutral, but British diplomats, members of Congress, and some advisors are
urging the president to ask for war
powers
Members of
the panel have been asked to convene to discuss options with the president and
with each other. At that time, each of you must submit a 2-3 page policy
recommendation, based on “your” experiences and expertise (that of your
“character.”) During the panel, each participant will deliver a 3 to 4
minute speech introducing his or her position, and then will engage in an
extended dialogue about which position has the best chance of success. (All of
this will be “in role.”)
All members
of the class should read from the textbook in preparation. Those
not on the panel will submit their opinions on the matter, in the form of single-paragraph
responses for the class following the panel.
Policy
recommendations ought to be carefully argued and thoroughly supported. They
ought to demonstrate clear understanding of the political and foreign policy
implications of their position, and ought to be consistent with the character
and politics of the assigned role. It is expected that students will research
their positions using all the resources at their disposal: on-line sources,
databases, and the library collection. Papers submitted without footnotes (or
endnotes) and a bibliography in the proper format will receive no credit, and
may not be re-written.
roles:
Elihu Root:
Theodore Roosevelt:
Eugene Debs
Andrew Carnegie
Jane Addams
William Jennings Bryan
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