Question 4: Should the U.S. concern itself with "keeping the world safe for democracy"?
Read the documents below to help you develop your opinion on this essential question regarding the future of our world and the role of the United States in that world.
Submit your comments below. For each question, every student should:
- Write a comment using evidence to back up your opinion (either by referencing the document or referencing specific facts discussed in class or in your readings)
- Ask a question
- Respond to someone else's comment or question
Document 1: Woodrow Wilson, "War Message", 1914
The world must be made safe for democracy. Its peace must be planted upon the tested foundations of political liberty. We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion. We seek no indemnities for ourselves, no material compensation for the sacrifices we shall freely make. We are but one of the champions of the rights of mankind. We shall be satisfied when those rights have been made as secure as the faith and the freedom of nations can make them.
Document 2: Woodrow Wilson, Message on the Treaty of Versailles, 1919
It was almost exactly twenty-one years ago that the results of the war with Spain put us unexpectedly in possession of rich islands on the other side of the world and brought us into association with other governments in the control of the West Indies. ... Weak peoples everywhere stand ready to give us any authority among them that will assure them a like friendly oversight and direction. They know that there is no ground for fear in receiving us as their mentors and guides. Our isolation was ended twenty years ago ... There can be no question of our ceasing to be a world power. The only question is whether we can refuse the moral leadership that is offered us, whether we shall accept or reject the confidence of the world.
The war and the Conference of Peace now sitting in Paris seem to me to have answered that question. ... It is thus that a new role and a new responsibility have come to this great nation that we honour and which we would all wish to lift to yet higher levels of service and achievement.
The stage is set, the destiny disclosed. It has come about by no plan of our conceiving, but by the hand of God who led us into this way. We cannot turn back. We can only go forward, with lifted eyes and freshened spirit, to follow the vision. It was of this that we dreamed at our birth. America shall in truth show the way. The light streams upon the path ahead, and nowhere else.
Document 3: Charles Lindbergh, September 1941
We are on the verge of war, but it is not yet too late to stay out. It is not too late to show that no amount of money, or propaganda, or patronage can force a free and independent people into war against its will. It is not yet too late to retrieve and to maintain the independent American destiny that our forefathers established in this new world. . . .
Document 4: Donald J. Trump, inaugural address
Under a Trump administration, no American citizen will ever again feel that their needs come second to the citizens of foreign countries. My foreign policy will always put the interests of the American people and American security first.
Yes, with the rise of communism another great war may occur. Democracy must stand its ground. Russian's revolution may have brought another enemy and we should be wary of it.
ReplyDeletewill democracy do good to other nations?
DeleteI agree, with other countries governed by a single ruler, wars may occur leading to the involvement of many countries. Even the U.S.
DeleteShould we stay prepared for inevitable war with Russia or seek peace even if they aren't democratic?
ReplyDeleteDemocracy is really one of the only ways to keep a nation from imploding. Even if it means forcing it on other nations, we should try our best at keeping democratic as long as we do not create foreign conflicts.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your position Gilbert hopefully one day we will show those Communist scum and end their tyranny.
DeleteI agree with your point where Democracy is the only way for the nation not imploding as it has worked with us we should show our fellow nations the wonders and how many problems have been solved or not occurrence thanks to democracy.
DeleteThe United States should definitely concern itself with keeping the world safe for Democracy. The U.S. was one of the few countries at the time to have democracy and should share this gift with the rest of the world in a peaceful manner.
ReplyDeleteEven if foreign nations don't see it as a gift, sometimes we need to just impose good things upon them.
DeleteDefinitively
DeleteWhy do you think democracy is important?
DeleteHow would a Democracy benefit people in other places?
DeleteShould we stay peaceful or should we fight for our beliefs?
ReplyDeletefight for our beliefs we need to stand up and fight for our rights :)
DeleteFight for our beliefs.
DeleteStay peaceful, we should promote our beliefs within our country but it doesnt matter if other countries follow our ways
DeleteAs a nation we have always fought for our beliefs and we should continue to do so.
DeleteDemocracy must be the key to our world, the last thing we want is debate, war, or hostility in our nations.
DeleteDemocracy is Essential as stated in Document 1 The world must be safe and it should have political freedom.
ReplyDeleteFreedom is the base of everything!
DeleteShould the U.S. concern itself with "keeping the world safe for democracy"? yes I'm in total disagreement with what Trump had to say in document 4 yes we should look for the citizens of the United States but the world needs us after all we are one of the strongest countries on the world
ReplyDeleteDemocracy is the best creation that sedentary mankind has done, it bestows the power distributed among all of us and prevents discussions
ReplyDeleteWithout Democracy, the US wouldn't have been where it stands today. Even today, the US continues to spread democracy to lands such as the Middle East who are desperately trying to become independent from a dictatorship. If all else fails, we must act to preserve these rights for everybody. Everybody deserves to live through a democracy for the preservation of life liberty and pursuit of happiness.
DeleteDo you believe this is absolutely the best thing mankind has done? Mankind has accomplished much more then the weak democracy we are in.
DeleteI believe the US should not concern itself with "keeping the world safe for democracy." The United States should worry more about itself and only join international affairs when the American people are affected. After all, why should the United States expend its resources and lose American lives for a cause that has no effect on the United States?
ReplyDeleteThe United States should concern itself with "keeping the world safe for democracy" because of influence. IF we as a nation protect our beliefs and try to expand this idea then the other nations will be influenced expand their idea on their own nation.
ReplyDeleteI agree, we have to influence the good of our country to others because we would want the same in response.
Deletei agree, the U.S. is just trying to help out their
DeleteThe United States should concern itself with keeping the world safe of Democracy because we would be be helping others instead of keeping it to oursleves.
ReplyDeleteI agree, because that is what the U.S. does, they help out others in need.
DeleteThe U.S. should be concern about keeping democracy. It would be then helping out corrupted countries become democracy , and help them continue growing
ReplyDeleteThe U.S should definitely concern itself about keeping the world safe for democracy. Despite mentioning" We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion", from document 1, there is truly a purpose to spreading democracy. This purpose is to avoid conflicts in other nations, like wars or independence movements, where the U.S might get involved.
ReplyDeleteThe U.S. should concern itself about keeping our democracy safe. Unless our American people are affected by international affairs there is no reason to interfere in other's problems.
ReplyDeleteThe U.S should be concerned about keeping the world safe for democracy as it is the way that us the U.S. choose to govern our nation. We should encourage other nations to do the same as it has shown how successful it has worked for us and would like to see other nations prosper and flourish in the same way. " It is thus that a new role and a new responsibility have come to this great nation that we honour and which we would all wish to lift to yet higher levels of service and achievement" here it shows how we wish nothing but the best to our fellow nations.
ReplyDelete