The United States entered World War I in 1917 after Germany began unrestricted submarine warfare, threatening American commercial shipping to Allied nations like Britain and France. President Woodrow Wilson argued entry was necessary to establish democracy abroad and make the world safe for democracy. Others saw economic benefits from increased production and supported spreading American values. Some citizens opposed entry, arguing the U.S. should remain neutral as fighting would cost American lives and involve the nation in a prolonged European war.

1. THE U.S. ENTERS WWI
Katie Vila, Alexa Mohr, Natalie Draham, Liz Corti
CASE 1 CASE 2
CONCLUSION

2. GOOD FOR BUSINESS
During World War One, John D. Rockefeller and Samuel Mather helped produce materials needed for the
war.With Rockefeller’s steel production and Mather’s oil company, America’s resources were used efficiently.
John D. Rockefeller was a very greedy man. Since his childhood, he had been under the impression
that “God rewards the chosen ones” and he believed that he had been chosen. Rockefeller was said to
never smile, except for an exceptionally profitable deal, and he decided young that the oil business was his
for the taking.
quot;My Tuesdays are
meatless,
Rockefeller was also unique, in that, although his oil company began very poorly, during the First
World War, his company was able to thrive. Within only seven years, Rockefeller’s business rose to control
My Wednesdays
1/10 of the entire US oil business. are wheatless,
When WW1 hit the United States, oil was needed more than ever. Between needing fuel for vehicles
I'm getting more
and other war materials, soldiers and citizens alike combined to give the standard oil company a bigger eatless each day.
boost than ever. John D. Rockefeller’s oil company began to thrive more than ever as a result. During this
time, Mr. Rockefeller began to buy up refineries. After each purchase, he would keep on running the more My coffee is
sweetless,
efficient plants and simply shut down the less efficient operations. With every refinery he purchased, he
was gaining more control over a chaotic situation. Within a period of about a single decade, John D.
My bed, it is
Rockefeller and his business associates at Standard Oil Co. literally created a global industry for refined sheetless,
petroleum products.
All sent to the
YMCA.quot;
Perspective 1 Perspective 2 Perspective 3

3. WILSON
Ever since I was a young boy, I have always been a believer of solving
problems through words, rather than conflict. Even now, as the president of the
United States, I still remain true to those values. However, in times if crisis, I
must sometimes go against these core values and do what is best for the United
States of America and myself. In order to remain an econommilcally safe country,
we must enter this war so that we can keep ties with some of our foreign allies.
These ties will allow us to continue foreign trace with nations far and wide and
therefore we can stay at our current position at the top of the world spectrum.
Although my original stance on the war was to remain neutral, I was forced to go
against my previous position of neutrality in 1917 when Germany's policy of
unrestricted submarine warfare, which seriously threatened our commercial shipping
(which was in any event almost entirely directed towards the Allies led by Britain and
France) – forced us to finally enter the war on 6 April 1917.

4. FARMER
This war is great for my business. Because of the need for
food, the rates on my crops have risen and I am making a ton
of money. Thanks to the war I can afford new farming
equipment and repairs to my barn. Much of my crops are given
to the troops over seas and Britain. I’m part of a network of
importing and exporting.
That Herbert Hoover of the Food Administration has been
pushing production. All my nieghboring farms and mine have
been making almost double our production before the war.
Our top priority as the U.S. is to help the starving people in
Britain, France, and Italy. The Department of Agriculture raises
the prices of our fruits, vegetables and livestock.
I’ve only grown a lot of corn and wheat because they’re most
profitable at this point. I am part of a unit feeding Europe! I
need to grow crops with high demand.

5. CEO OF MAJOR
CORPORATION
We went to war to make business better...I am a prime example of the benefits
we've reaped due to war. During the time of the war, technology greatly increased,
making my job as a tycoon significantly easier. Also, the war began a trend toward
industrialism and the application of mass production methods to weapons and to the
technology of warfare in general. This mass production increased sales exponentially
and my co-workers, along with myself basked in triple the amount of income we had
ever experienced before. Thanks to the war, I was able to use more industrial
technology than ever and this just allowed it to be that much easier to “bring in the
big ones”
The only negative aspect of the war was that once the United States went into “total
war”, I lost a lot of my workers to the army. The country became way too consumed
with the actual war and stopped caring about what really matters (at least in my eyes):
Money.

6. SPREADING DEMOCRACY
Sweet Video
The United States entered the war with the reasoning that it was to promote
democracy. It all started with the United State’s involvment in Mexico. As the police and
protector of the world, the United States wanted to “help” Mexico by throwing out
their dictator, Huerta. After he ordered the Mexican army to attack the U.S. troops
coming to seize a port, Wilson advanced forces deeper into the country.
Mexico was the United State’s “moral imperialism” project. It felt it could help the
country by making it a democracy and throwing out the oppressing dictator. In the
mean time, Mexico opposed the efforts and Germany secretly started to contact the
Perspective 1 country. The United States finally intercepted the Zimmerman Telegraph which was
bribing Mexico to go to war with the U.S. in hopes of distracting it from the war in
Europe. Upon receiving the message, Wilson ordered America into war and decided to
take down Germany once and for all. Wilson wanted to make the world safe for
democracy and bring our policies to it. After the war, during the Treaty of Versailles,
Perspective 2 Wilson wanted to introduce his Fourteen Points to the world. These were points of
justice, quality, and democracy that he felt could help make the world a better place.
Perspective 3

7. WILSON
As the president of the United States, I believe it would be best for our country to
enter the war. We have lost too many lives already, and now it is our time to stop
this madness. German Submarine warfare has escalated, which has caused the killing
of innocent people. So I have no choice but to enter the war. They have caused so
much turmoil already and even violated the Neutrality Acts. This war is necessary to
make the war safe for democracy. Germany can no longer be trusted. We as one
people must fight this autocratic government. They are planning to make ties with
Mexico and invade our homeland. Lastly, this war can be a war to end all war.
Participation in this war is inevitable and our entry gives us a prominent role in
shaping the peace process after the war’s end. We as the United States are not
seeking revenge nor land, but we are seeking peace and stability. We will fight for
democracy and for the civil rights and liberties of small nations.

8. GEORGE NORRIS
As a member of the Republican Party and a strong supporter of the American people I feel that the US
must maintain their neutrality during this World War. As an important member of the House of
Representatives I have the ability to know that the spread of democracy is not a valid nor an effective reason
to enter a war. We have often spoken of allowing Europe to resolve their own problems as stated in the
George Washington Farewell Address. War is not the only option available to us; we can encourage non-
aggressive treaties or international tribunals. These tactics will be much more effective versus entering into
one of history’s most useless wars. We must not let up now, as times get tough, to barge into this horrific
war and become involved in something that could last for years to come. In entering this war, we allow
many patriotic soldiers to risk their lives and their families are at risk of loosing a loved one. As Americans,
we are constantly scrutinized and under discretion; but we know our morals and we stand true to them.
Imagine the lifestyle of the American people with widows of US soldiers in morn and families feeling
hopeless. We must decide to not enter into this war and set the example we have so many times preached.

9. SOLDIER
How do I feel about entering into the war? I feel honored above all because I
know that I am going to be involved in a war that can, and will, change the history
of America. I will be offered opportunities that never would have come my way if
I had not been selected to defend my country. I will now be able to see the
world, as I am being sent to Alsace-Lorraine. My family and friends are sad to see
me leave, and many of my peers don’t want me to fight because they think this
war is “useless”. But I know that it is not, I know that I am fighting for a
purpose, and I know that America will be better after this war. I think about how
different my life will be without people to support me, but I also know I will be
okay, and I know my life would be worse without this war. Ask me a different
question, how do I feel about not entering the war. I will tell you that my life
would be in shambles, with no direction or purpose, I would be miserable.

10. CONCLUSION
Woodrow Wilson wanted to keep America’s faith in itself and its beliefs during the war. This was evident
when he decided to enter the war under the conditions that it was good for our American economy and
that we were helping other countries by spreading democracy. America’s morals were not to be questioned
when we decided to become the world police and help other nations gain a home and to stop the
oppression brought upon them by their enemy countries.
1. lease review these cases and perspectives.
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2. Decide whether or not these were “just” reasons for entering the war.