Chapter 23 DBQ

1. America claims that the reason for them to join the World war 1 was to bring the war to an end and "to vindicate the principles of peace and justice in the life of the world as against selfish and autocratic power." (President Wilson, 1917)

2. Wilson in his war message stated that America should fight for " democracy, for the right of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their own government, for the rights and liberties of small nations, for a universal dominion of right by such a concert of free people's as shall bring peace and safety to all nations and make the world itself at last free." Wilson's war goals were very unrealistic and overly moralistic. He expected a world of peace and democracy which impossible when other nations didn't have these intentions. Wilson's goals never were achieved because the Treaty of Versailles excluded these ideals. Wilson's ideas had no economic benefit to other countries, so they were uninterested.

3. I believe that both moral ideals and national interests should guide American diplomacy. There should be a balance between moral ideal and national interest because not every country would choose the same moral ideals as America, therefore the difference in moral ideals could alienate America but national interests shouldn't completely control foreign policy either. Moral ideal should be included to gain public support and to remind ourselves of our morals.

4. During and after the war Americans feared about being overthrown by foreign countries and being ruled by communism. To avoid this, Americans started to force immigrants to fully become Americanized and pledge to be loyal to America. As punishment for being disloyal American believed they " should be disfranchised and interned."