Should America Prepare for War?

What arguments were made for and against U.S. preparation for war in 1940 to 1941?

Learning Objectives

I can identify and compare arguments for and against U.S. military preparation before entering World War II
I can annotate primary sources to evaluate historical perspective and purpose
I can support a written claim using direct evidence from both sources

Standards

NYS Social Studies Framework 11.7a
C3 Framework D2.His.16.9-12
Hess Cognitive Rigor Matrix Level 4: Evaluate differing policy arguments using evidence from historical sources

Materials

Warm-up prompt
Primary Source A: Editorial opposing war preparedness (Chicago Daily Tribune, adapted)
Primary Source B: Editorial supporting war preparedness (New York Times, adapted)
Close Read annotation guide
Comparative analysis table
Exit ticket

FFW (5 min, 10 sentences min):What do you think is the difference between preparing for war and going to war? Should the government prepare just in case, or does that create more risk?

Share out

In 1940 and 1941, Americans were deeply divided. Some believed preparing for war would protect the country. Others believed it would provoke disaster. Today we will examine two real editorials from that moment in history. Our goal is to understand both arguments, then evaluate which one made more sense at the time.

Close Reading and Annotation

You are about to read two newspaper editorials. One argues against preparing for war. The other argues in favor. Your job is to read each one carefully, annotate it, and complete the comparison chart. Our final task will be to decide which argument was more persuasive and why.

Primary Source A: Editorial Opposing War Preparation

Source: Chicago Daily Tribune (Adapted from October 10, 1940)

“This country was dragged into the last war under the illusion that we could make the world safe for democracy. What did we gain but sorrow and economic ruin? Now we are told we must prepare for war again. But war preparation means war. It is a road from which there is no return. The military-industrial powers want this. The people do not. We must invest in peace. Not in battleships. Not in bullets. We can remain strong without becoming part of Europe’s madness.”

Primary Source B: Editorial Supporting War Preparation

Source: New York Times (Adapted from December 5, 1940)

“Isolation will not save us. Every day we wait, the dictators grow stronger. Germany now controls the continent. Britain stands alone. If she falls, we may be next. Preparing for war does not mean we want war. It means we recognize the danger. The Atlantic Ocean is no longer protection. Planes and submarines ignore it. The President is right. We must build tanks, ships, and airplanes. We must prepare before it is too late.”

Students silently read and annotate both sources using the Close Read Annotation Guide.

Close Read Annotation Guide (Student Handout)

Instructions:

Underline the sentence that best represents the author’s main argument
Write one margin comment per paragraph (What does it mean? What does the author want the reader to believe?)
Circle emotionally charged or persuasive language
Star one quote from each source that is key to understanding MAIN IDEA

Students complete the Comparative Analysis Table

Comparative Analysis Table (Student Handout)

Source	Author’s Position	Main Argument	Key Quote	Tone and Purpose
Editorial A	Opposes U.S. war preparation	Preparing for war will lead to war	“War preparation means war”	Cautious, alarmed; trying to stop military build-up
Editorial B	Supports U.S. war preparation	America must prepare before it is too late	“Preparing for war does not mean we want war”	Urgent, persuasive; wants U.S. to act quickly

Analysis Question at bottom (5 - 8 sentences)Which editorial do you think made the stronger case in 1940 or 1941? Why?

Exit Ticket (4 - 5 sentences)

Which argument was stronger: the one in favor of U.S. military preparation or the one against it? Use one quote from either editorial to support your answer. Write at least five complete sentences and explain your reasoning.