1. Do Now Download Lesson 18: America enters WWI
Scroll to the next slide, read the speech and answer the question.
Read the objective
Wait for further directions

2. Do Now Question (Answer in your notebook) Speech:
“The people of the United States are drawn from many nations, and chiefly from the nations now at war. It is natural and inevitable that some will wish one nation, others another, to succeed in the momentous struggle. Such divisions among us would be fatal to our peace of mind and might seriously stand in the way of our duty as the one great nation at peace, the one nation ready to play a part of mediator and counselor of peace. The United States must be neutral in fact, as well as in name, during these days that are to try men's souls. We must be impartial in thought, as well as action.”
Source: President Woodrow Wilson, in a speech before Congress, August 19, 1914.
Question: Does Wilson think the United States should enter WWI? Why or why not?

3. Objective (Read) Central Historical Question:
8/29/2018
Objective (Read)
To analyze differing primary sources on America’s entry into World War One.
Central Historical Question:
Why did the U.S. enter WWI?

4. Mini-Lesson (Discovery Education)
Go to
Click assignments
Watch the video: “America Joins the Ranks.”
Answer the video questions below in your notebook:
Why did the U.S. Enter WWI in 1917?
What steps did the U.S. take to prepare the country for the fight after Wilson declared war?

5. Independent Reading What ARE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SOURCES?
8/29/2018
Independent Reading What ARE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SOURCES?
Primary Sources
Secondary Sources
provides direct or firsthand evidence about an event, object, person, or work of art.
describe, discuss, interpret, comment upon, analyze, evaluate, summarize, and process primary sources.
Examples of Primary Sources Include: Letters, clothing, books, journals, maps, audio and visual recording from a specific time-period.
Examples of Secondary Sources Include: Books, movies, newspaper and magazine articles that discuss historical events after they occurred.

6. Mini-Lesson (Read) How to Analyze a Primary Source?
8/29/2018
Mini-Lesson (Read)
How to Analyze a Primary Source?
Step 1: (Sourcing): Determine when it was created? Who created? Why they created it?
Step 2: (Contextualization): What was going on in America or the world at the time the source was created? (Google)
Step 3: (Close Reading): Specific questions about the text and style of author. What is the tone of the speech? Find a quote to support your answer
Step 4: (Corroboration) Compare/contrast sources. Which source is more accurate? Does each document say the same thing? If no why not?

7. Cooperative Learning Activity
8/29/2018
Cooperative Learning Activity
Open the attachment: Entry into WWI Documents and Questions
Work in pairs to accomplish the following:
Read Documents A and B and C
Answer the questions on the double sided sheet.

8. CLASS discussion Which source do you believe? Why?
8/29/2018
CLASS discussion
Document Guiding Questions:
Prompts: I believe… Because… I agree or disagree with ________ because… My evidence is __________.
Which source do you believe? Why?
Do you find Zinn’s argument convincing? Why or why not?
Was Wilson lying to the American public in his declaration of war speech? Why or why not?
Is it ever a good decision for a president to lie to the American public?

9. Lesson Assessment
Contrast Wilson’s explanation on why the Unites States entered World War I with the reasons provided by Zinn. What do you think were the real reasons behind Wilson’s decision to ask Congress to declare war?
(Turn in on Engrade)