HIST 173—Homework #6 Name:

DUE: WED (3/3) 11:59pm on BeachBoard Dropbox

Wk. 7 PS Docs: WWI

Woodrow Wilson, "Declaration of War," 1917

1) Why, according to Wilson, must the United States now enter the war? What has changed?

According to Wilson, the United States must now enter the war because it has no other means to fight
for human rights. The German submarine warfare had resulted in not only the loss of property but also
the destruction of lives of non-fighters, children, women, and men who were going on with their
business legitimately and innocently. Americans had died, and American ships, as well as those of
friendly and neutral countries, had been sunk. America, therefore, must not submit to this natural foe to
rights and liberty but must fight for the rights and liberation of people, including Germans, for the
ultimate world peace, for the rights of all nations, and for the safety of democracy in the world.

2) In your opinion, was America right to enter World War I when it did? Why or why not?

According to Wilson, the United States must now enter the war because it has no other means to fight
for human rights. The German submarine warfare had resulted in not only the loss of property but also
the destruction of lives of non-fighters, children, women, and men who were going on with their
business legitimately and innocently. Americans had died, and American ships, as well as those of
friendly and neutral countries, had been sunk. America, therefore, must not submit to this natural foe to
rights and liberty but must fight for the rights and liberation of people, including Germans, for the
ultimate world peace, for the rights of all nations, and for the safety of democracy in the world.

Woodrow Wilson, "The Fourteen Points," 1918

1) What are the core principles behind Wilson’s 14 Points?

The first was based on particular proposals to adjust postwar boundaries in addition to setting up new
countries in place of the defunct Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian Empires. These proposals were in line
with Wilson’s belief in self-determination as a right for all people. The second involved general
principles to regulate future international conduct, including unbiased mediation of colonial claims,
free trade, armaments reduction, open agreements to replace secret treaties, and freedom of the seas.
The third included a recommendation for the formation of a league of nations that would put the new
territorial changes and principles into practice and also solve future controversies.

2) Do you believe the Fourteen Points were a sound basis for organizing the international
community? Why or why not? How are the diplomatic aims of the Fourteen Points expressed in the
international relations of today?

I believe that a good number of the points were a sounder basis for organizing the international
community, but others were not. Those that considered the formation of a league of nations and those
that focused on governing future international conduct were sound basis since they were practical and
achievable. However, those that proposed adjustment of boundaries and formation of new countries
were not a sound basis. This because they did not propose a formula for accomplishing national self-
determination and did also not take into consideration the likely economic rivalries along with their
impacts on international relations.
 HIS 10—Quiz #1 2

The diplomatic aims of the Fourteen Points are mainly expressed in international relations of today
through the United Nations (UN), which was formed after the league of nations was dissolved. Today,
the UN performs some of the diplomatic aims o including keeping peace around the world and
developing good relations among world nations.