Anti-War Dbq

When world War 1 took place in 1913 through 1919 many people had different perspectives on it whether they were positive or negative. As Woodrow Wilson ran for president during the war his ideals were those of white supremacy, he believed because he had a high education he was smarter than others. Another ideal of his was to solve economic problems and allow the system to run smoother. However Eugene Debs and W.E.B. Dubois leaders of the Socialist party were against Wilsons visions for the country. For example, Wilson pursued to draft men for the war due to divided loyalties among Americans, which Debs and Dubois were against. In Debs' Anti-War speech (1918) and Dubois's Returning Soldiers (1919) speech they explain how the government takes …show more content…
As Debs quotes "They have always taught and trained you to believe it to be your patriotic duty to go to war" meaning the government has taught one as a child to serve your country. As you go along in school one develops this mentality that as a citizen of this country one has to fulfill duties that will help the country like fighting in wars. For example, since the start of school a person is required to pledge allegiance to the flag. Students would get in trouble if they were to refuse pledging to the flag. Similar to the draft if one were to resist it, then they would not be for filling their so call duties as a citizen of the United States. Debs was definitely against drafting men to serve this country because he knew how the government was taking advantage of its Citizens. The working class are the ones who went to war, while the master class declared the wars. To this end, the government are constantly reminding us that we the people have a duty to full fill yet, we do not see those who declare wars on the battle lines fighting instead they rather have others die instead of themselves. In other words we the people are dying on the battle fields because of the decisions made by the