Lesson 26: Post- WWI
As the war ended in Europe, the American people began to realize the realities of war. For how little time the United States was in the war, casualties were high. 116,516 soldiers died. This also scared Americans that so many people could die, people they knew, for a war they didn't really feel invested in. This led to a policy of isolationism. Isolationism is where a country holds back from involvement in the rest of the world.
It was these feelings that President Wilson came back to after the Treaty of Versailles. He had signed the treaty, but he needed the Senate to ratify it to make it legal in the United States. Remember that the Treaty of Versailles had included the creation of the League of Nations. Many people were worried about the League of Nations because they felt that it could potentially pull the United States into another European war. Read the following articles about President Wilson trying to get the Treaty of Versailles passed.
http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/Feature_Homepage_TreatyVersailles.htm
http://www.ushistory.org/us/45d.asp
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/wilsonstroke.htm
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/woodrow-wilson-suffers-a-stroke
It was these feelings that President Wilson came back to after the Treaty of Versailles. He had signed the treaty, but he needed the Senate to ratify it to make it legal in the United States. Remember that the Treaty of Versailles had included the creation of the League of Nations. Many people were worried about the League of Nations because they felt that it could potentially pull the United States into another European war. Read the following articles about President Wilson trying to get the Treaty of Versailles passed.
http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/Feature_Homepage_TreatyVersailles.htm
http://www.ushistory.org/us/45d.asp
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/wilsonstroke.htm
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/woodrow-wilson-suffers-a-stroke
Assignment #10
1. Write a short essay (2-3 paragraphs) on why the reason why the United States didn't ratify the Treaty of Versailles and its results.
2. President Wilson had a stroke. Some historians believe that he didn't do anything the rest of his term (his wife running the country and forging his signature). Others believed he did run the country. Imagine that in 20 years we had a president (your favorite president) who had a stroke. Would you want him to remain as president or should he resign due to his health? Write a 2-3 paragraph essay explaining your position.
2. President Wilson had a stroke. Some historians believe that he didn't do anything the rest of his term (his wife running the country and forging his signature). Others believed he did run the country. Imagine that in 20 years we had a president (your favorite president) who had a stroke. Would you want him to remain as president or should he resign due to his health? Write a 2-3 paragraph essay explaining your position.