i have called the congress into extraordinary session because there are serious, very serious,...
DESCRIPTION
In his speech to Congress Wilson explains ….. Why the US should enter the war What we need to do to prepare for the war What are our objectives in entering the war.TRANSCRIPT
WWIDeclaration of War
Speech to Congress, 2 April 1917
I have called the Congress into extraordinary session because there are serious, very serious, choices of policy to be made, and made immediately, which it was neither right nor constitutionally permissible that I should assume the responsibility of making …….
In his speech to Congress Wilson explains …..
Why the US should enter the war
What we need to do to prepare for the war
What are our objectives in entering the war.
Germany 's actions are a war against government and people of the U.S.
Vindication of right -
correct the wrongs
against U.S. citizens and all humans
No compassion or princip les
No discrimination of what boats
were destroyed
Broke promise to U.S. made in
April 1915
Innocent people killed
Why U.S. enters W.W.I.
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
Broke promis
e to U.S.
made in April 1916
Cooperation with AlliesFinancial assistance to those AlliesOrganization and mobilization of all U.S.
resources for needs both at home and abroadFull equipment of the navy, especially
focusing what is needed to defeat the submarines
Addition to armed forces: 500,000+Funding from Congress for all these
programs
What the U.S. had to do to get ready for WWI
vindicate the principles of peace and justiceprotect the freedom of the people of the worldpunish nations that deny their individual citizen’s rightsNot made at German people, rather at their governmentNever be a friend with a government that does things like
unrestricted warfareWant security for democratic governments of the worldPeace for the world; liberation of peoplesRights of nations great and smallU.S. has no selfish ends to serve and desire no conquest (land)We will only play fairOnly see ourselves at war with Germany, not other Central
powers
Objectives/Attitudes of Wilson
A formal declaration of war followed
four days later, on April 6,
1917.
In his speech he continually points out the wrong doings of the German government. He then talks about the German people and says…
“We have no quarrel with the German people. We have no feeling towards them but one of sympathy and friendship. It was not upon their impulse that their government acted in entering this war. It was not with their previous knowledge or approval.”
Why do you think he makes a distinction between the German government and the German People?