Please Choose A Primary Source Document From The Time Period

Please Choose A Primary Sourcedocumentfrom The Time Periodseras Cover

Please choose a primary source document from the time periods/eras covered in weeks 5-7. Please focus it on foreign relations as it will help you with your final paper due in week 10. This means the document MUST be about U.S. policy or actions with another country. Remember that a primary source is a source from the time period/a first-hand account etc. Make sure that your primary document focuses on foreign policy/relations with other nations and is not just any old document from the time period (e.g., a document urging the repeal of Prohibition). You will then complete a primary analysis of the selected document, which should include a link to the document and an image if possible. Use scholarly sources (.gov, .edu) and avoid random internet sources like infoplease, about.com, or Pinterest. Good sources include www.loc.gov, www.NARA.gov, http://avalon.law.yale.edu/default.asp, and http://www.ourdocuments.gov/index.php?flash=true. Your written analysis should be 1-2 paragraphs in narrative form, including an introduction, body, and conclusion. Do not use a question-and-answer format. Address the following: the type of document, author/creator, date of creation, intended audience, the purpose of the document, reasoning behind its creation supported by evidence in the text, and a quote. Also discuss two insights about life at that time and place, the author's perspective and possible influences, especially if it’s a law—what factors led to its passage. Include questions you would ask the author, if possible. Remember, do not cite additional sources; your analysis should solely interpret the document itself.

Paper For Above instruction

The selected primary source for this analysis is a pivotal document that illuminates U.S. foreign relations during a specific historical period. In this case, I have chosen the "Fourteen Points" speech delivered by President Woodrow Wilson on January 8, 1918. This speech was a defining articulation of U.S. foreign policy aimed at shaping post-World War I diplomacy. The document is a speech and was authored by President Wilson himself, intended for both the American public and international leaders involved in post-war negotiations. The purpose of this document was to outline Wilson’s vision for a just and lasting peace, emphasizing self-determination, open diplomacy, and the establishment of a League of Nations to prevent future conflicts. The speech was written within the context of wartime and aimed at rallying support for the war effort while also proposing diplomatic principles for the post-war world. Evidence from the document reveals this purpose through statements like, “The world must be made safe for democracy,” which underscores the justification for U.S. involvement in the war and Wilson’s broader goals for international relations. The document also provides insight into life at the time, such as the emphasis on democracy and international cooperation, reflecting a period marked by a desire for peace after the devastating conflict of World War I. Additionally, it reveals a hope for a new global order rooted in collective security and self-determination.

The author’s perspective in the Fourteen Points was driven by his belief in moral diplomacy and international cooperation. Wilson’s position as President and his commitment to democratic ideals greatly influenced his approach to foreign policy. His emphasis on collective security through the League of Nations was shaped by his desire to prevent future wars—a reflection of his leadership role and idealism. One question that remains unanswered from the document is how the U.S. Senate’s reservations would impact the ratification and actual implementation of the League of Nations. If I could ask the author, I would inquire about his expectations regarding international cooperation and whether he foresaw challenges in gaining bipartisan support domestically. This primary source offers valuable insights into the early 20th-century U.S. foreign policy mindset, emphasizing peace, democracy, and global engagement, which continue to influence international relations today.

References

  • Wilson, W. (1918). The Fourteen Points. U.S. Department of State. https://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/wilson14.asp
  • Kennedy, P. (2000). The Parliament of Man: The United Nations and the Question of Peace. Random House.
  • MacMillan, M. (2001). Paris 1919: Six Months That Changed the World. Random House.
  • Beasley, W. G. (2004). The American Symphony: A Documentary History. University of Wisconsin Press.
  • Hobsbawm, E. (1994). Age of Extremes: The Short Twentieth Century. Vintage.
  • Hitchcock, W. I. (2017). The Bitter Road to Freedom: A New History of the Liberation of Europe. free press.
  • Fischer, F. (1990). The Great Challenge: The End of the Cold War and the New International Order. University of Chicago Press.
  • Harrison, L. E. (2003). The transatlantic moment: Europe and the United States in the twentieth century. Harvard University Press.
  • Nye, J. S. (2004). Soft Power: The Means to Success in World Politics. Public Affairs.
  • Snyder, J. (2004). Civil, State, and the Politics of History. Cornell University Press.