Use the following steps to identify and analyze the alternatives presented in the passages. PASSAGE A:
"My thought is of America... This great country of ours...should show herself in this time of peculiar trial of a Notion fit beyond other to exhibit the fine poise of undisturbed judgement, the dignity of self-control, the efficiency of dispassionate (unemotional) action; a nation that neither sits in judgement upon others nor is disturbed in her own counsels and which keeps herself fit and free to do what is honest and disinterested and truly serviceable for the peace of the world."
Woodrow Wilson, Appeal for Neutrality, August 19, 1914

PASSAGE B:
"Our true course should be to judge each nation on its conduct, unhesitatingly to antagonize every nation that does ill at the point it does it. And equally without hesitation to act..
One of the greatest of international duties ought to be the protection of small, highly civilized, well-behaved and self respecting states from oppression and conquest by their powerful military neighbors...
I feel in the strongest way that we should have interfered, at least to the extent of the most emphatic diplomatic protest and at the very outset-and then by whatever further action was necessary-(when Germany invaded Belgium)".
Theodore Roosevelt, America and the World War, 1915

Respond to each of the prompts below:

IDENTIFY THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM
1) What is the issue that both passages address?

2) Does each passage present the same approach to the problem?

IDENTIFY THE SOLUTIONS PROPOSED IN THE TWO PASSAGES
3) What does Passage A suggest is the proper response of the United States to the war raging in Europe?

4) How does Passage B propose that the U. S. respond to the war?

5) In what ways are these two viewpoints similar or different?

EVALUATE THE POTENTIAL EFFECTIVENESS OF EACH VIEW
6) What difficulties do you see in Wilson's suggestion that the United States not judge the actions of other nations?

7) What might happen if the U. S. acts in a "disinterested" way as Wilson suggests?

8) Does Roosevelt make clear what he means when he refers to a nation that "does ill"?

9) Does Roosevelt explain the basis by which nations should be judged "highly civilized" or "well behaved"?

CONSIDER OTHER ALTERNATIVES
10) What should be the goal of the United states in responding to the war in Europe?

11) What steps are most likely to achieve that goal?