Every historian prefers to rely on primary documents to understand the past better. A primary document is a first-hand account of an event from the past. It can be a cultural artifact, a picture, letter, journal, or government document. While providing an immediate response to an event, primary documents are limited in scope as well. These sources only provide one view of an event and are limited in their interpretation. The strength of these documents permit an historian to draw their own conclusions about the past. Although this cannot be done without additional research.
Currently in our study of American history, we are discussing the US's emergence as a world power and our involvement in WWI. The following is a speech from Theodore Roosevelt against people he perceived as unpatriotic during World War I. After reading the speech, please discuss and analyze the primary source. Think about how the US responded to these fears? Who did Roosevelt target? Was it only the Germans? Why or Why not? How did this contradict President Woodrow Wilson's idealistic goals for World War I?
In your analysis, please include additional research beyond the textbook. You should have a minimum of two outside sources. The textbook should not be listed as a reference source at all and no encyclopedias should be used. These are considered tertiary sources and not acceptable for research. This short paper is at least three double-spaced pages of text (Times New Roman, font size 12) and you must consult a minimum of two academically credible sources. Bibliographies and citations will be in the APA, Chicago/Turabian or MLA format.
The short paper needs to be turned in through the assignment section for grading. If you use any of the information from your sources word-for-word, you must cite the source by using endnotes or footnotes. If you read the information and write it in your own words, then you must cite the source because you are paraphrasing someone's information. It is a good rule of thumb to have a citation at the end of every paragraph.
The short paper must include a cover page with your name, course number and course title, instructor's name, and date. You must also include a bibliography at the end of your paper. While composing your paper, use proper English. Do not use abbreviations, contractions, passive voice, or first/ second person (I, you, we, our, etc). Before submitting your paper, check your grammar and use spell check. Remember, the way you talk is not the way you write a paper. Please label your paper with your last name.
Please be sure to review the grading rubric because I will be using it to grade all written assignments.
Theodore Roosevelt, "The Hun Within Our Gates" (1917)
The Hun within our gates is the worst of the foes of our own household, whether he is the paid or the unpaid agent of Germany. Whether he is pro-German or poses as a pacifist, or a peace-at-any-price man, matters little. He is the enemy of the United States. Senators and Congressmen like Messrs. Stone, La Follette, and Maclemore belong in Germany and it is a pity they cannot be sent there... Such men are among the worst of the foes of our own household; and so are the sham philanthropists and sinister agitators and the wealthy creatures without patriotism who support and abet them. Our Government has seemed afraid to grapple with these people. It is permitting thousands of allies of Berlin to sow the seeds of treason and sedition in this country. The I.W.W. boasts its defiance of all law, and many of its members exultingly [sic] proclaim that in their war against industry in the United States they are endeavoring to give the Government so much to do that it will have no troops to spare for Europe. Every district where the I.W.W. starts rioting should be placed under martial law, and cleaned up by military methods. The German-language papers carry on a consistent campaign in favor of Germany against England. They should be put out of existence for the period of this war. The Hearst papers, more ably edited than the German sheets, play the Kaiser's game in a similar way. When they keep within the law they should at least be made to feel the scorn felt for them be every honest American. Wherever any editor can be shown to be purveying treason in violation of law he should be jailed until the conflict is over. Every disloyal German-born citizen should have his naturalization papers recalled and should be interned during the term of the war. Action of this kind is especially necessary in order to pick out the disloyal but vociferous minority of citizens of German descent from the vast but silent majority of entirely loyal citizens of German descent who otherwise will suffer from a public anger that will condemn all alike. Every disloyal native-born American should be disfranchised and interned. It is time to strike our enemies at home heavily and quickly. Every copperhead in this country is an enemy to the Government, to the people, to the army, and to the flag, and should be treated as such.
The pro-German, anti-American propaganda has been carried on for years prior to the war, and its treason able activities are performed systematically to-day... These men support and direct the pro-German societies. They incite disloyal activities among the Russian Jews. They finance the small groups of Irish-Americans whose hatred for England makes them traitors to the United States. They format seditious operations among the German-American socialists and the I.W.W.'s. They support the German-language periodicals. Their campaigns range from peace movements and anti-draft schemings [sic] to open efforts in favor of sedition and civil war.
These traitors are following out the vicious teachings of Prussian philosophers; there is no cause for surprise at their treasonable course. Unfortunately there is cause for surprise at the license which the Administration extends to their detestable activities. In this attitude the Administration is repeating its course of indifference to world-threatening aggression, and of submission to studies acts of murderous violence, which resulted, after two and a half years of injury and humiliation, in our being dragged unprepared into war. If during those two and a half years a policy of courage, and of consistent and far-sighted Americanism, had been followed, either the brutal invasion of our national rights would have been checked without war or else if we had been forced into war we would have brought it instantly to a victorious end. Our failure to prepare is responsible for our failure now efficiently to act in the war. In exactly the same fashion it may be set down as certain that continuance of the present craven policy of ignoring sedition and paltering [sic] with treason will encourage and aid German autocracy, and will be translated wither into terrible lists of Americans slain and crippled on the battlefield or else into an ignoble peace which will leave Germany free at some future time to resume its campaign against America and against liberty-loving mankind.
Source: Roosevelt, Theodore. "The Hun Within Our Gates" (1917) found in Schaller, Michael, et. al, eds. American Horizons: U.S. History in a Global Context. Second Edition. New York: Oxford University Press, 2016.