APRIL SMITH'S S.T.E.M. CLASS
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AMERICAN ISOLATIONISM


CENTER TARGET

I can explain American isolationism during the early years of World War I.
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READ ABOUT IT!

Welcome to the American Isolationism During World War I Virtual Center.  The first thing your group needs to do is read about American Isolationism before World War I.  After you read, you need to work together to complete the American Isolationism Policy Center Page in your Lesson Chronicles.

THE ELECTION OF 1916

PictureWoodrow Wilson's Campaign Pins
As war raged across the Atlantic Ocean, America geared up for its 1916 presidential election. The Democratic Party supported the democratic president who had already served one term and was on the ballot for a second term; Woodrow Wilson.  His campaign slogan was “He kept us out of war.”  Along with that straight-forward, isolationist message, Wilson also vowed to continue his progressive reforms at home.

PicturePresident Woodrow Wilson
President Wilson had led the nation in practicing the policy of isolationism when World War I broke out in Europe.  Isolationism is a policy of remaining neutral in other nations' conflicts and wars.  He had seen the devastation caused by wars before.  He felt it was best for America to stay out of war.  He wanted to work on domestic issues.  He worked to implement progressive reforms and strengthen the US economy.  

PicturePresident William Howard Taft
The Republican Party wanted Theodore Roosevelt to run again.  Theodore Roosevelt was the president from 1901 - 1909 and William Howard Taft became president in the next election.  Roosevelt was greatly disappointed in Taft as a president and decided he would run for president again in 1912.  The Republican Party supported Taft.  Taft was more willing to do what the Republican Party wanted him to do whether he agreed with them or not.  Roosevelt would not do anything that went against his beliefs. 

PicturePresident Theodore Roosevelt
 So Roosevelt created a new political party called the Progressive Party.  Many people agreed with Roosevelt, but when they voted for him, it split the Republican party in half.  Half of the nation's Republicans supported Taft and the Republican Party and the other half supported Rosevelt and the Progressive Party.  This allowed the Democrat who was running, Woodrow Wilson to get the majority of the votes because all of the democrats voted for him.

PictureCharles Evans Hughes
After splitting the party’s votes to help Wilson win in 1912, Roosevelt did not want to repeat the same mistake.  So, the Republican Party nominated Supreme Court Justice Charles Evans Hughes. Though Roosevelt did not run for president, he did campaign for America to join World War I.  He gave fiery speeches calling for war.  The Germans had violated international agreements and had attacked neutral U.S. merchant ships and passenger ships to keep supplies from getting to the Allies.  He felt that isolationism made America look weak.

PictureCharles Evans Hughes Campaign Pin
Roosevelt’s absence left a two-man race between Hughes and Wilson. Hughes was more comfortable as a judge than on the campaign trail.  He never presented a clear position on the war during his campaign. He made pro-war speeches in areas of the country that were anti-German, or against Germany, and vowed to stay neutral to people with isolationist views. The Republican candidate’s wishy-washy stance earned him the nickname “Charles Evasive Hughes” among critics.

TOOL BOX

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Important Vocabulary
cannon fodder:  soldiers who are sent into battle even though it is likely that they will die

Charles Evans Hughes:  a supreme court justice who ran as the Republican Party candidate for the presidency in the election of 1916 

Democratic Party: U.S. political party that favors big government and high taxes in order to provide the most services to the most people

domestic issues: all the matters, concerns, and needs within your nation
​
Electoral College:  a body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president.
​
evasive:  to avoid someone or something

isolationism: a policy of remaining neutral in other nations' conflicts and wars

isolationist:  a person who believes in remaining neutral in other nations' conflicts and wars

progressive:  favoring change, reform and protecting civil rights

Progressive Party:  a U.S. political Party started by Theodore Roosevelt that favored change, reform, and civil rights while favoring a large, well funded military in order to protect citizens  

pro-war:  in favor of going to war

Republican Party:  U.S. political party that favors small government and low taxes in order to interfere as little as possible in the lives of individual citizens 

Theodore Roosevelt:  president of the United States from 1901 to 1909 who practiced Big Stick Diplomacy; established the Progressive Party in 1912; and supported U.S. involvement in World War I

William Howard Taft:  Republican President from 1909 - 1913 who became president after Theodore Roosevelt and then was challenged by Roosevelt for the presidency in the 1912 election

Woodrow Wilson:  the democratic President of the United States that served two terms from 1913 - 1921 who believed in U.S. isolationism but ended up involving the U.S. in World War I to make the world safe for Democracy
PictureA map showing each state's number of electoral college votes
Wilson’s supporters warned the public that if Hughes was elected, Roosevelt and the Republican party would convince Hughes to become involved in the war.  One campaign advertisement read, “You are working – not fighting!  Alive and happy -- not cannon fodder.  Wilson and peace with honor?  Or Hughes with Roosevelt and War?”  While Wilson didn’t explicitly promise to keep the country out of the war, many voters “heard that message.” Wilson won by a narrow margin: 277 to 254 in the Electoral College and fewer than 600,000 popular votes. 


ANALYZE IT!

In today's Analyze It Activity, you will analyze the different views of Democrats and Republicans.  To begin, each student will take the political typology quiz to find out what your own political view is.  I will read each choice to you and explain what they mean in kid language.  You will answer 23 survey questions to determine your political view.  Then you will copy the Democrat vs. Republican Chart into your Lesson Chronicles.  To get started, click on the icon below.  I have created a group page that will average everyone's results to show the overall political view of the sixth grade class at Moody Middle School.
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Pictographs

The following pictures are pictographs that help to further explain the differences in Democrats and Republicans and the spectrum of political views.  Look over these in your groups.  Write down any questions you have about Democrats and Republicans for class discussion.
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Democrat vs. Republican

Below you will see a chart showing the views and beliefs of republicans and democrats.  Copy the chart into your Lesson Chronicles.  This information will be on your test.
Topics and issues
Democrats
Republicans

Overall Views
  • Liberal - not opposed to new ideas or ways of behaving that are not traditional or widely accepted; believe in liberal or high taxes for liberal or more services so the individual can seek a liberal or great amount of public services 
  • Conservative - keep to traditional ideas or ways of behaving in a society; believe in conservative or low taxes for conservative or only the most basic services so the individual can conserve or save their money the way they choose

Views About Government
  • Left Wing -​ Believe in Strong Federal Government 
  • Right Wing - Believe in Strong State ​Governments 

Views About the Economy
  • The government should heavily regulate business
  • The government should stay out of business 

Views About Taxes and Services
  • Government should provide more services to the less fortunate (like health care) and increase taxes if necessary.
  • High-income earners should pay a larger percentage of their income as taxes.
  • The government should tax less and spend less. Cutting spending to balance the budget should be the priority.
  • Higher income earners should have an incentive to invest
  • Charity is the responsibility of the people.

Views About Society
  • For gay marriage rights
  • For abortion rights
  • For stem cell research
  • For gun regulation
  • Against the death penalty
  • Believe that working hard does not always help you succeed - government assistance is necessary
  • Against gay marriage
  • Against abortion rights
  • Against stem cell research
  • For the right to bear arms
  • For the death penalty
  • Believe that working hard will help you succeed - individuals have a  responsibility to help themselves

Views About Immigration
  • Legal immigration is preferred
  • Willing to work with and help immigrants who live in the United States that have come here illegally to obtain citizenship
  • Illegal immigrants should not be deported but helped
  • Legal immigration is a requirement
  • Immigrants must go through the proper requirements to gain citizenship
  • Illegal immigration is not tolerated and illegal immigrants should be deported

PROVE IT!

You just learned about American isolationism before World War I and you analyzed the differences between democrats and republicans. Now you need to show off what you know.  Complete the Center Check by clicking on the Center Check Icon below and answering the questions.
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CENTER COMPLETE!

You have completed the American Isolationism Center.  Click on the button below to go back to the Lesson 3 - America Enters World War I.
Back to WWI Lesson 3




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