In paragraph 8 of "Wilson's War Message to Congress," President Wilson states a main idea and offers details to make his point. He begins with the distressing nature of the duty he faces in leading the nation into war and emphasizes the importance of fighting for democratic principles and the rights of all people. Throughout the paragraph, he elaborates on the values and ideals that justify entering the war, providing a detailed rationale for his call to action. This structure allows him to articulate both his deep sense of responsibility and the broader significance of America's involvement in the conflict.
How does President Wilson organize paragraph 8 of "Wilson's War Message to Congress"?
It is a distressing and oppressive duty, gentlemen of the Congress, which I have performed in thus addressing you. There are, it may be, many months of fiery trial and sacrifice ahead of us. It is a fearful thing to lead this great peaceful people into war, into the most terrible and disastrous of all wars, civilization itself seeming to be in the balance. But the right is more precious than peace, and we shall fight for the things which we have always carried nearest our hearts—for democracy, for the right of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their own governments, for the rights and liberties of small nations, for a universal dominion of right by such a concert of free peoples as shall bring peace and safety to all nations and make the world itself at last free. To such a task we can dedicate our lives and our fortunes, everything that we are and everything that we have, with the pride of those who know that the day has come when America is privileged to spend her blood and her might for the principles that gave her birth and happiness and the peace which she has treasured. God helping her, she can do no other.
He details events in chronological order.
He describes a clear cause-and-effect situation.
He compares and contrasts his reluctance to go to war.
He states a main idea and offers details to make his point.
11 answers
Read the paragraph from "Wilson's War Message to Congress."
Neutrality is no longer feasible or desirable where the peace of the world is involved and the freedom of its peoples, and the menace to that peace and freedom lies in the existence of autocratic governments backed by organized force which is controlled wholly by their will, not by the will of their people. We have seen the last of neutrality in such circumstances.
Which statement best describes the main idea of the paragraph?
Our country can no longer refuse involvement because it cannot allow peace and freedom to be at risk.
The peace of the world is based on the ability to remain neutral in the fight for freedom.
We have a responsibility to remain neutral and uphold the principles of freedom.
The country cannot remain neutral because it is no longer the will of the people.
Neutrality is no longer feasible or desirable where the peace of the world is involved and the freedom of its peoples, and the menace to that peace and freedom lies in the existence of autocratic governments backed by organized force which is controlled wholly by their will, not by the will of their people. We have seen the last of neutrality in such circumstances.
Which statement best describes the main idea of the paragraph?
Our country can no longer refuse involvement because it cannot allow peace and freedom to be at risk.
The peace of the world is based on the ability to remain neutral in the fight for freedom.
We have a responsibility to remain neutral and uphold the principles of freedom.
The country cannot remain neutral because it is no longer the will of the people.
The statement that best describes the main idea of the paragraph is:
Our country can no longer refuse involvement because it cannot allow peace and freedom to be at risk.
This captures Wilson's argument that neutrality is unacceptable when the peace and freedom of the world are threatened by autocratic governments.
Read the sentence from "Wilson's War Message to Congress."
It was a war determined upon as wars used to be determined upon in the old, unhappy days when peoples were nowhere consulted by their rulers and wars were provoked and waged in the interest of dynasties or of little groups of ambitious men who were accustomed to use their fellow men as pawns and tools.
In this sentence, Wilson compares the German government to governments of the past. What is he hoping to convey?
The comparison attempts to make the German government look uncivilized and brutal.
The comparison makes the United States seem more suitable for war than Germany.
The comparison reminds the audience of how war was fought more often by emperors and kings.
The comparison hopes to change the way governments look at decisions of war.
It was a war determined upon as wars used to be determined upon in the old, unhappy days when peoples were nowhere consulted by their rulers and wars were provoked and waged in the interest of dynasties or of little groups of ambitious men who were accustomed to use their fellow men as pawns and tools.
In this sentence, Wilson compares the German government to governments of the past. What is he hoping to convey?
The comparison attempts to make the German government look uncivilized and brutal.
The comparison makes the United States seem more suitable for war than Germany.
The comparison reminds the audience of how war was fought more often by emperors and kings.
The comparison hopes to change the way governments look at decisions of war.
The comparison in Wilson's sentence conveys that the comparison reminds the audience of how war was fought more often by emperors and kings. By referencing the "old, unhappy days" of warfare in which rulers made decisions without consulting the people, Wilson highlights the autocratic nature of the German government and contrasts it with democratic principles.
Read the paragraph from "Wilson's War Message to Congress."
Gentlemen of the Congress: I have called the Congress into extraordinary session because there are serious, very serious, choices of policy to be made, and made immediately, which it was neither right nor constitutionally permissible that I should assume the responsibility of making.
Wilson’s word choice in the paragraph supports the idea that
calling Congress into session has major consequences.
he is worried about making this decision on his own.
he understands the magnitude of the decision the country is faced with.
the president cannot make serious decisions without input from Congress.
Gentlemen of the Congress: I have called the Congress into extraordinary session because there are serious, very serious, choices of policy to be made, and made immediately, which it was neither right nor constitutionally permissible that I should assume the responsibility of making.
Wilson’s word choice in the paragraph supports the idea that
calling Congress into session has major consequences.
he is worried about making this decision on his own.
he understands the magnitude of the decision the country is faced with.
the president cannot make serious decisions without input from Congress.
Wilson’s word choice in the paragraph supports the idea that he understands the magnitude of the decision the country is faced with. His use of phrases like "serious, very serious, choices of policy" indicates an awareness of the gravity of the situation, emphasizing the importance of involving Congress in the decision-making process due to the repercussions of those choices.
Read the paragraph from "Wilson's War Message to Congress."
On the 3rd of February last I officially laid before you the extraordinary announcement of the Imperial German Government that on and after the 1st day of February it was its purpose to put aside all restraints of law or of humanity and use its submarines to sink every vessel that sought to approach either the ports of Great Britain and Ireland or the western coasts of Europe or any of the ports controlled by the enemies of Germany within the Mediterranean.
By using the full title of the German government, Wilson most likely hopes to
impart a negative connotation of the German government to support his argument for war.
give clear and concise information, without leaving out important facts, as he addresses Congress.
make himself sound official and trustworthy as he is addressing Congress.
evoke fear in the members of Congress so they will declare war on Germany.
On the 3rd of February last I officially laid before you the extraordinary announcement of the Imperial German Government that on and after the 1st day of February it was its purpose to put aside all restraints of law or of humanity and use its submarines to sink every vessel that sought to approach either the ports of Great Britain and Ireland or the western coasts of Europe or any of the ports controlled by the enemies of Germany within the Mediterranean.
By using the full title of the German government, Wilson most likely hopes to
impart a negative connotation of the German government to support his argument for war.
give clear and concise information, without leaving out important facts, as he addresses Congress.
make himself sound official and trustworthy as he is addressing Congress.
evoke fear in the members of Congress so they will declare war on Germany.
By using the full title of the German government, Wilson most likely hopes to impart a negative connotation of the German government to support his argument for war. By referring to the "Imperial German Government," he emphasizes the autocratic nature of the regime, framing it in a way that highlights its aggressive and inhumane actions, which serves to bolster his rationale for entering the conflict.
How does the author of "How We Entered World War I" organize the information in the text?
The author explains the decision to go to war by comparing and contrasting events that led to World War I.
The author presents her interpretation and opinions about the United States and its reasons for entering World War I.
The author outlines events chronologically to give a complete account of the United States entering World War I.
The author offers opinions of those living in the United States and how they felt about the country's involvement in the war.
The author explains the decision to go to war by comparing and contrasting events that led to World War I.
The author presents her interpretation and opinions about the United States and its reasons for entering World War I.
The author outlines events chronologically to give a complete account of the United States entering World War I.
The author offers opinions of those living in the United States and how they felt about the country's involvement in the war.
The author of "How We Entered World War I" outlines events chronologically to give a complete account of the United States entering World War I. This organizational structure helps to provide a clear understanding of the sequence of events that led to the U.S. involvement in the war.
3 answers