Albert Beveridge Dbq Analysis

Preceding the twentieth century, America finally made the world appear smaller. By utilizing its resources of advanced communication, transportation, and ideas, the United States became a world power (Keene, 170). This new title created conflict in and outside of America. Through this dissention, America’s role was formed by the desire to expand, obligation to help allies, and debate over entering the League of Nations. The role of the United States in the twentieth-century world should have been dominated by the hunger for power but also the desire to help those in need.
America should have designed their role including these two ideas as one. For example, Albert Beveridge gave an excellent opinion of how he believed America should have taken a higher position in the world at this time. He states, “The opposition tells us that we ought not to govern a people without their consent. I answer. The rule of liberty that all just government derives its authority from the consent of the governed, applies only to those who are capable of self-government” (Document A). Beveridge basically said that if a territory was incapable of ruling itself, then the United States should
If the United States joined it, many feared for America’s independence (Document F). However, if the United States did not join, then America would be in constant fear of their safety. President Woodrow Wilson and Senator Henry Cabot Lodge had differing opinions of the League of Nations (Keene, 230). Wilson’s argument gave an emotional appeal to the sacrifices of those who served the war (Keene, 230). This speech was not concerned with the selfish values of independence. It was centered on the safety of Americans who were directly affected by the war. Essentially, this idea should have been the founding principle of the position of the United States in the World. America should put the welfare of its citizens before the