Group+1+Activist

During this time period, citizens had different opinions. Many wanted to fight, and many thought that the best idea was to stay neutrel. This war involved twenty seven nations, do we want to be apart of that? Well the activists wanted the war to stop. The activists gave speeches on why we shouldnt fight, not like the Four Minute men who were a volunteer group of men that gave speeches about what was going on in World War I, and they wanted to be apart of the war. They mostly sided with whatever the President wants.

 The Four Minute Men gave very convincing speechs: "  We should be able to make decisions on our own, and we shouldnt be forced by anyone to change our minds. In my opinion, going to war will help everything, the one thing we Americans love is winning, independence and victory. I think we should go with Wilsons idea and fight! Because if we dont, Germany will just keep torepeoding our ships, just like they did after the killing of 128 americans on the Luisitania. So i think we all should have the same oppinion, and the attitude to win! Thank you."

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​ This speech was the excact oppisite of a speech an activist would give:
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Is victory really everything in this situation? Are we really going to fight for something that we weren't invlolved in in the first place? Think about it, do we want to put all of our soldeirs in danger? If we go to fight there is going to be endless numbers of funerals. Many men are going to die, be wounded and scarred for life. See, i think we shouldn't listen to Woodrow Wilson, becasue the only reason he wants to go to war is becasue of the Germans. They torepeoded the Luisitania killing 128 americans! Many of us wanted to enter the war but Woodrow kept us out because he wanted to follow George Washingtons principle of staying nutrel. I thought that was pretty smart, but after Wilson negoitiaed with Germany about not attacking any passenger ships, what did the Germans do, they kept torepeoding our ships! I mean once is enough. I know that Germany and Mexico wanted to contact us over the Zimmerann telegraph to fight, but they didn't need to ruin our ships with passengers on it, just to send us the message! Now the President wants war! But i think isolationism is the best choice. I think we shouldn't get involved in this war because if were already borrowing money from other counries, how are we going to pay them back if were in debt? Also many men are going to get killed, over something we could fix. Whats the point of fighting!!! I say we dont fight in this war!!! Thank you and enjoy your theater presentation. **



**__ I Didn't Raise My Son To Be A Soldier __**
> I raised him up to be my pride and joy > Why should he put a musket to his shoulder > To kill another mother's darling boy > Why should he fight in someone else's quarrels > It's time to throw the sword and gun away > There would be no war today > If the nations all would say > No I didn't raise my son to be a soldier I didn't raise my son to be a soldier
 * I didn't raise my son to be a soldier

> To go fighting in some far-off foreign land > He may get killed before he's any older > For a cause that he will never understand > Why should he fight another rich man's battle > While they stay at home and while their time away > Let those with most to lose > Fight each other if they choose > For I didn't raise my son to be a soldier I didn't raise my son to be a soldier

> To go fighting heathens round the Horn > If God required to prove that boys are bolder > They'd have uniforms and guns when they were born > Why should we have wars about religion > When Jesus came to teach us not to kill > Do Zulus and Hindoos > Not have the right to choose > For I didn't raise my son to be a soldier I didn't raise my son to be a soldier > To find a sweet young girl and love and hold her > Bring me some grandchildren when they can > Why can't we decide that the Empire > Is just as large as it requires to be > And I'd rather lose it all > Than to see my laddie fall > For I didn't raise my son to be a soldier This song was written for many reasons. But the main reason is to try and convince citizens that fighting is wrong. Why should a perfectly good child be shooting or killing another perectly good child, for no reason? This song was made for people who would want to put their kids in the war. This gives them alittle information about what life could be about if there was not fighting, if you didn't raise your son to be a soldier. This deffintly influenced alot of people in the war. It made them think what fighting was actually for, and if it was really important.
 * I raised him up to be a gentleman

"History Matters." __I Didn't Raise My Son to Be a Soldier.__ 31 Mrach.2006 <[]> Stewart, b Gail. __World War I.__ Farmington Hills: Blackbirth Press, 2004 Grant, R.G. __World War I.__ Chicago: Raintree, 2001