Isolationism and World War

Lesson Plans | Primary Sources |

 

Lesson Plans:

Isolationism vs. Internationalism/Interventionism - Students will Analyze and interpret arguments of both the American isolationists and the internationalists /interventionists prior to World War II. Identify facts and feelings in various primary resources and documents (the song, the political cartoons and text). Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the pro-isolationist movement arguments and the strengths and weaknesses of the anti-isolationists (or internationalists’) arguments.

The Debate in the United States over the League of Nations - Students will Describe Wilson's concepts for peace and the League of Nations and efforts to foster American support for it. Discuss the opposition to the League in the Senate and read the words and listen to the voices of some central participants in the debate over the League of Nations.

Primary Source Documents:

Debate: Isolationism as it relates to FDR and Pearl Harbor - Using primary resource documents and knowledge of the period 1921-1945, students will assess the validity of a statement about FDR and his knowledge of Pearl Harbor.
Great Discussion Question, with excellent supporting evidence.


Woodrow Wilson's First Innaugural Address - Woodrow Wilson's first innaugural address, March 4, 1913.

Isolationism: Opposing Viewpoints: provides an excellent balance of primary sources for research. Includes excerpts of speeches from politicians as well as editorials and essays espousing and opposing isolationist views, mostly from 1914-1950. Clear and succinct prefaces to each chapter place the selections in historical context. Especially notable is his evenhanded treatment of the commentators and his careful definitions of isolationism.

Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library
World War 1
The Papers of Woodrow Wilson