1.

The opposition of war proposed acts of embargos and denouncing both acts of Britain
and Germany as illegal and acquiesced both of them. That way they would remain
neutral on both sides. The opposition of war wanted to remain out of war due to all the
consequences that would occur from joining the war. Wilson’s war message attempted to
counter the argument of war with the fact that the US would only be fighting to end the
war and to bring Germany to terms. Wilson said that the US wouldn't be fighting for
victorious assertion of power or for revenge. Wilson’s message said that they had to fight
for the rights and liberties of small nations.
2. I agree with the opposition of war. I think that the US could have tried other options to
force Germany to back down. The argument to Wilson's message makes good points on
how to stop the war before having to join it. Though looking at the severity of the war
already this probably wouldn’t have done much to stop Germany. Germany would have
most likely gotten more aggressive and continued the war.
3. The pro war side is the most consistent with US history. At this point America has been
through the revolution, civil war, and many battles within the country. The US wasn’t
involved with European affairs before this due to Washington’s Farewell address and the
promise that Europe would stay out of the northern hemisphere as long as the US
remained out of Europe.
4. The opposition of war is most consistent with the progressive era. The progressive era is
about trying to make life better and trying to help the society. A war is one of the last
things progressive activists would want to deal with. The main objectives of the
progressive movement were addressing problems caused by industrialization,
urbanization, immigration, and political corruption. Progressive reformers sought to fix
the US infrastructure and have things be more equal before joining in to “fix” or stop
WW1. The Progressive Peace movements focused on war itself. Progressive opposed
the US involvement in the war due to their belief that warfare always had an immoral,
hidden economic motivation.
For war:
The Germans didn't care about laws or humanity and used submarines to sink all vessels
approaching the western coasts of Europe that were enemies of germany.
The Germans promised to give warning before sinking sea vessels and didn't make use of that
promise.
The Germans were attacking innocent people without any compassion. The germans
aggression is a war against mankind and all nations.
allies/neutral countries have been sunk but germany.
Only will fight for vindication of human rights and not for revenge of victorious assertion of
power.
It is impossible to remain neutral as germany is attacking every ship (even merchant ships).
Will only join the war to bring Germany to terms and to end the war.

Against war:
Consider the consequences of joining the war. Try to first find a peaceful/neutral way through
the war. Both Germany and Britain violated manners of rights of neutral vessels and neutral
nations under international law.
Britain declared the first war zone in the sea. It covered all of the north sea. The first germany
war zone had a 15 day notice and the british gave 1 day notice. The germany war zone covered
the english channel and the high sea waters around the british isles.
The government only persisted in Germany but submitted to england.
could have defied both of them and could have gone to war against both of these
nations for this violation of international law and interference with our neutral rights.
Could Have denounced both as illegal and acquiesced both and remained neutral on
both sides.
Could have declared an embargo against shipping from american ports to either
government. Could have refused to permit the sailing of any ship from any american
port to either military zones.