To War or Not to War: The Assessment

Using the Documents 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941

Should the United States have entered the War Before Pearl Harbor?

Directions: In pairs, you will be working to examine ten documents that have to do with America’s neutral position between 1938 and 1941. Once you have finished the questions that accompany the documents, your task will be to create a written composition that addresses the reasons that the United States should enter the war in September and the reasons the United States should stay out of the war in 1941. (This will be written in the present tense as you will be writing as if it were 1941.)

Your written composition could be any of the following formats:

  1. A letter to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt giving him your advice.
  2. A formal, multi-paragraph opinion essay.
  3. A letter to the editor explaining your position.
  4. A series of diary entries that documents your position.

No matter what option you choose, your writing should:

  1. Clearly take a stand on the issue.
  2. Use the documents to support your argument. (You must use at least half of the documents.)
  3. Use information from your textbook to support your argument.
  4. In your closing, acknowledge the other side of the argument, to make it clear that you understand both sides of the issue.

Document List

# / Documents / Source
0 / Excerpt from Washington’s Farewell Address, September, 1796 /
1 / Video Yearbook: 1938
  • Europe's Leaders Strive to Avert New World War (00:24)
  • London, England (00:14)
  • Berchtesgaden, Germany (00:36)
  • London, England; Chamberlain Visits Nazi Germany (00:27)
  • Prague, Czechoslovakia; American Ligation (00:22)
  • New York, NY; Poland Takes a Stand (00:33)
  • World-Wide News Events; Peace Conference at Munich (01:25)
  • World-Wide News Events; Roosevelt Speaks Out on Democracy (01:22)
/
2 / Churchill’s Broadcast to the United States, “The Lights Are Going Out,” October 16, 1938 /
Complete text:
3 / Video Yearbook: 1939
  • Europe at War! (01:51)
  • England; Chamberlain Declares War Against Germany (00:58)
  • France; France Prepares for War (02:14)
  • America; Americans Question the Future (00:20)
  • President Roosevelt Pledges to Keep U.S. Out of War (01:35)
/
4 / Flyer from the Citizens National Keep America Out of War Committee, September 16, 1939 /
5 / Map of Europe, March 1938 - May 1941 /
6 / Churchill’s Speech to House of Commons, “This Was Their Finest House,” June 18, 1940 /
Complete text:
7 / Video Yearbook: 1941
  • New Congress Hears President War Aid (02:53) (Excerpts from State of Union Address)
/
8 / Charles Lindbergh’s Speech to America First Rally, Madison Square Garden, May 23, 1941 /
9 / Dr. Seuss Cartoons, “Just whose time are we biding?” 1941 /
10 / Edward R. Murrow Broadcasts, “London is Burning,” “A Few German Pilots” “Rooftop Air Raid,” “Christmas/So long and Good Luck,” “The Bombing has been Heavy” /

To War or Not to War: The Evidence

Dealing with Documents 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941

Directions: Answer the questions for each document with clear, specific statements that use information from the documents. Make sure you read the questions beforeyou examine the primary sources.

Read the following selection from George Washington’s Farewell Address.

Document 0:

George Washington’s Farewell Address, 1796

  • What does Washington say to Americans about permanent alliances?
  • How is the farewell address relevant to a study of the years 1938 – 1941?

When you have finished the Farewell Address, go on to the 1938 video yearbook excerpts

Document 1:

Video Yearbook: 1938

  • Why are European leaders worried about the threat of war?
  • Who is Neville Chamberlain and why was he in Germany?
  • What happened at Munich in September of 1938?
  • What does Roosevelt say about American security?

When you have finished the 1938 yearbook, go on to document 2, the Churchill speech at

Document 2:

Churchill’s broadcast to the United States, October 16, 1938.

We must arm. Britain must arm. America must arm. If, through an earnest desire for peace, we have placed ourselves at a disadvantage, we must make up for it by redoubled exertions, and, if necessary, by fortitude in suffering. We shall, no doubt, arm. Britain, casting away the habits of centuries, will decree national service upon her citizens. The British people will stand erect, and will face whatever may be coming.

But arms–instrumentalities, as President Wilson called them–are not sufficient by themselves. We must add to them the power of ideas. People say we ought not to allow ourselves to be drawn into a theoretical antagonism between Nazidom and democracy; but the antagonism is here now. It is this very conflict of spiritual and moral ideas which gives the free countries a great part of their strength. You see these dictators on their pedestals, surrounded by the bayonets of their soldiers and the truncheons of their police. On all sides they are guarded by masses of armed men, cannons, aeroplanes, fortifications, and the like–they boast and vaunt themselves before the world, yet in their hearts there is unspoken fear. They are afraid of words and thoughts; words spoken abroad, thoughts stirring at home–all the more powerful because forbidden–terrify them. A little mouse of thought appears in the room, and even the mightiest potentates are thrown into panic.

  • What is Churchill saying that Great Britain must do?
  • What is Churchill’s response to those people that say that Great Britain and the United States should steer clear of a conflict with Nazi Germany?

When you have finished the Churchill excerpt, go on to document 3, the 1939 video yearbook.

Document 3:

Video Yearbook: 1939

  • What has happened to cause war in Europe?
  • What was Russia’s role in this aggression?
  • Which countries have declared war by the end of 1939?
  • How have countries prepared for war in 1939?
  • According to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, what is American’s position in 1939?

When you have finished the 1939 yearbook, use the following “keep American out of war” flyer.

Document 4:

“Keep America Out of War”

  • What is the purpose of the flyer?
  • What groups are represented in the flyer?
  • What is the flyer asking its readers to do (name two specific actions)?

When you have finished reading the flyer, use the following map.

Document 5:

Map of Europe that demonstrate aggression between 1938 and 1941

  • Which countries had Nazi Germany invaded by June 1940?

When you have finished reading the flyer, go on to document 6, the Churchill speech at

Document 6:

Churchill’s Speech to House of Commons, “Their Finest Hour” June 18, 1940

“I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization. Upon it depends our own British life, and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, "This was their finest hour."

  • According to Churchill, what are the consequences of the Battle of Britain?
  • According to Churchill, what will happen to the United States if Britain fails?
  • Based on document 5, why do you think so much depending on the Battle of Britain?

When you have finished the Churchill excerpt, go on to document 7, the 1941 video yearbook.

Document 7:

Video Yearbook: 1941 (Excerpts from Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s State of the Union Address)

  • According to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, what will America do for those fighting for democracy?
  • How will the United States pay for the materiel it needs to become an “arsenal for democracy?”
  • Why doesn’t Franklin Delano Roosevelt believe it’s necessary for immediate payment from those fighting Nazi Germany?

When you have finished the video yearbook, go on to document 8, excerpts from Charles Lindbergh’s speech given at Madison Square Garden.

Document 8:

Charles Lindbergh’s Speech to America First Rally, Madison Square Garden, May 23, 1941

Election Promises Should Be Kept
We Lack Leadership That Places America First
By Charles A. Lindbergh
Delivered at Madison Square Garden, New York Rally
Under the Auspices of the America First Committee
May 23, 1941

We are assembled here tonight because we believe in an independent destiny for America. Such a destiny does not mean that we will build a wall around our country and isolate ourselves from contact with the rest of the world. But it does mean that the future of America will not be tied to these eternal wars in Europe. It means that American boys will not be sent across the ocean to die so that England or Germany or France or Spain may dominate the other nations.

An independent American destiny means, on the one hand, that our soldiers will not have to fight everybody in the world who prefers some other system of life to ours. On the other hand, it means that we will fight anybody and everybody who attempts to interfere with our hemisphere, and that we will do so with all the resources of our nation. It means that we rely on our own strength, our own ability and our own courage to preserve this nation and to defeat anyone who is rash enough to attack us. It means that we have faith that these United States of ours can compete in commerce or in war with any combination of foreign powers, and that we are no more afraid of the Europe of Germany than our forefathers were afraid of the Europe of France or England or Spain.
No Reason for Fear

We in America should have no reason to fear. With adequate leadership we can be the strongest and most influential nation in the world. No other country has as great resources. None is as easily defended. We lack only a leadership that places America first—a leadership that tells what it means and what it says. Give us that and we will be the most powerful country in the world. Give us that and we will be so united that no one will dare to attack us.

Our country is not divided today because we fear war, or sacrifice, or because we fear anything at all. We are divided because we are asked to fight over issues that are Europe’s and not ours–issues that Europe created by her own shortsightedness. We are divided because many of us do not wish to fight again for England’s balance of power, or for her domination of, Mesopotamia, or Egypt, or for the Polish Corridor, or for another treaty like Versailles

  • According to Lindbergh, what does an independent America mean?
  • According to Lindbergh, why should the United States stay out of the war in Europe?

When you have finished with Lindbergh’s speech, go on to document 9, Dr. Seuss’s 1941 cartoon.

Document 9:

Dr Seuss’s “Ho Hum! No chance of contagion”

  • According to Dr. Seuss, what are all the ills afflicting Europe?
  • Do you think Dr. Seuss believes that Uncle Sam can avoid catching these illnesses?
  • What is the message of the cartoon?

Document 10:

Edward R. Morrow Broadcasts

The audiences for these clips are American listeners? Why is this so important?

What feelings might these broadcasts incite among its listeners?

What conclusions would Americans come to in regard to US involvement in WWII?

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