Reflect on Your Knowledge

In this section, you will explore your current knowledge about the debate over American intervention in World War I. Discuss the following questions with your colleagues or reflect on them in your journal.

1. Identify the major groups in support of and opposed to intervention in World War I and outline their general positions/arguments.
2. What else was going on during this specific time period that affected the tenor and tone of the war argument? How does the time period affect the official government response to the argument and the arguers?
3. How do the social and demographic changes in the 50 years preceding the War affect the different positions in the debate over intervention? What is the impact of the "New Immigration," industrialization, and Progressive reform?
4. What are the similarities and differences between World War I intervention arguments and arguments that have been proffered supporting or opposing U.S. involvement in other wars since World War I?