OPVL Exercise: World War I #2

Document A
Origin: The origin of the document is the Constitution of the Black Hand, as excepted
from Black Hand Over Europe, by Henri Pozzi.

Purpose: The Constitution of the Black Hand was written to officially form the Black
Hand. The intended audience was anyone of Serbian origin, who supported the
revolution, and wished to be a member of the organization. It also informed those who
were not in the organization who could join the Black Hand and what their mission was.

Value: As a primary source, the Constitution of the Black Hand has great value. It clearly
delineates the possible members of the Black Hand and identifies its founding members.
Additionally, the document illustrates the prevailing nationalist sentiment of the time
period that directly contributed to the outbreak of World War I.

Limitations: The document does, however, have its limitations. The Constitution is not
very detailed and does not offer much information outside the purpose and name of the
organization being formed. Also, the document offers a very narrow picture of the time.

Document B
Origin: The document is a transcript of the Fourteen Points Speech, given by Woodrow
Wilson, American President, in 1918.

Purpose: When President Wilson gave his Speech on the Fourteen Points, he was
specifically addressing Congress. He wished to inform the legislature of what Americas
goals should be post-World War I. President Wilson was hoping to clarify what aims
should be met during the upcoming peace talks regarding European reconstruction.

Value: The Speech on the Fourteen Points gives insight as to what Americas ideals were
in the aftermath of the First World War. The document also shows the shifting political

climate in America and educates the reader as to what President Wilsons political policy
consisted of.

Limitations: Because Wilson intended for the public to hear this speech, it is possible that
he was not as candid as he would have been when addressing his goals in private. In
addition, Wilson obviously shows a strong bias toward America, and ensuring that
America is taken care of after the war. The document is limited in its scope; it only
shows Wilsons point of view.

Document C
Origin: The document is an excerpt from an essay regarding how the First World War
started and what Germanys goals were during the war.

Purpose: The intended audience of the document is anyone who is interested in reading
about the First World War. The document was written well after the end of the war, in
1966.

Value: Because the document was not written during the war, the author can see the big
picture and analyze the events more objectively than would have been possible had he
been writing during/directly after World War I.

Limitations: It is possible for secondary sources to offer a poor picture of what actually
happened, by glossing over certain events and highlighting others. The heritage of the
author would also play an important part in determining the objectivity of the author
when declaring what Germanys goals were during the war.

Document D
Origin: There is no source accompanying the chart, which records the industrial potential
of the major world powers from 1880 to 1938. Because the data extends to 1938, it can

be assumed that the chart was published after that date, and thus after the First World
War.

Purpose: The purpose of the document is to present the audience with the industrial
strength of the major world powers (and key players) during World War I. The document
does not have and intended audience and seeks to inform. The information presented in
the chart is relative to Britains industrial strength in 1900. Using that as a frame of
reference, the relative strength of the other powers can be assessed.

Value: The chart shows the industrial trends of the world powers, before and after the
war. The information presented in the chart, in general, is not subject to bias because the
person merely compiled objective data.

Limitations: The largest limitation of the document is that it does not have a source.
Without a source there is no way to ensure that the document has not been manipulated
by outside sources to support their claims. The accuracy of the document must be
questioned. Additionally, the compiler had a specific goal in mind when they presented
all of the information together in one chart.

Document E
Origin: The document is excerpted from F. Scott Fitzgeralds work, Tender is the Night.

Purpose: Tender is the Night was intended to be read by the general public.

Value: The novel provides insight into the zeitgeist of the post-war period. Fitzgerald is
an author of the Lost Generation, the name given to the American writers who left the
United States after World War I and moved to Europe, because of their disillusionment.
Fiction and fictional characters are also easier to swallow, because it is often hard to
accept that such atrocities could have actually happened.

Limitations: Because Tender is the Night is a work of fiction, there is no guarantee that
what is presented is an accurate and factual account of the events depicted.