2-27 World War World

Your second exam is scheduled for next week on Brightspace.
Instructions to access the exam:
- Navigate to Brightspace, go to Assessments, then choose Assignments.
- Click on Exam two when it becomes available.
Select one essay topic from the choices provided.
Write a comprehensive essay consisting of four to six paragraphs.
Submit your work on Turnitin to check for originality - aim for a low percentage (0%).
You will have at least four days to complete the essay.
Try to finish the essay before spring break to avoid last-minute stress.

Several students who requested extensions on Exam One have not yet submitted their work.
It's important to not fall behind. Ensure you submit Exam One so you are not responsible for two exams at once.

The focus of this course is not just memorizing names and dates but understanding complex human behaviors and motives.
Key Motives in History:
- Economic factors, power dynamics, political contexts, religious beliefs, psychological aspects, emotional states.
- Examples include conflicts that arise due to anger, love, loyalty, and the interplay of these emotions.
Topics previously discussed include:
- The Spanish-American War and its multiple motives.
- Theodore Roosevelt's foreign policy: "Speak softly, but carry a big stick".
- William Howard Taft’s approach of dollar diplomacy.

Woodrow Wilson was a progressive Democrat focused on government solutions to societal issues, known for his black-and-white moral view.
The beginning of World War I for the U.S. stems from the assassination in Europe and political dilemmas, leading to Wilson’s declaration of neutrality, despite the U.S. being the 'Walmart of war'.
Wilson's reelection in 1916 was based on keeping America out of the war until Germany’s actions forced intervention.
Significant aspects of the war:
- America fought not as part of the Allies but as its own 'team' to make the world safe for democracy.
- The war’s end was marked by the armistice on November 11, 1918, which later became Veterans Day.

Following WWI, the Treaty of Versailles was crucial to establishing peace but was laden with problems:
- The Treaty placed sole blame for the war on Germany, which they economically could not sustain, leading to future conflicts.
- Wilson's 14 Points aimed to promote democracy, but only the establishment of the League of Nations made it into the final treaty.
- Congress, led by Henry Cabot Lodge, opposed the treaty in its original form, resulting in no ratification and the U.S. not joining the League of Nations.

Woodrow Wilson suffered a stroke, rendering him incapable of performing presidential duties, and his wife Edith acted as the de facto president.
The 1920 election resulted in a Republican victory, with Warren G. Harding appealing to a desire for stability and a return to conservative values.
The perception of wartime morality and democracy's expansion was challenged by the treatment of African Americans and the rise of nativism post-war.

Events included Sacco and Vanzetti's trial and the resurgence of the KKK, reflecting a growing hostility towards immigrants and minorities.
The Scopes Monkey Trial highlighted the conflict between modern scientific understanding and religious conservatism, showcasing the cultural divisions of the time.