State Historical Society of Iowa

Woman's Peace Party Letter to President Woodrow Wilson, October 29, 1915

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Courtesy of Library of Congress, "Woman's Peace Party to the President of the United States," 29 October 1915

Description

The Woman's Peace Party, organized in January 1915 and led by Jane Addams, was one of the most prominent organizations opposing American military intervention and the preparedness movement. In this 1915 letter to President Woodrow Wilson, the party leaders argued that preparations against threats from Europe, through the buildup of the U.S. military, would only lead to arms races that would cause more problems than they solved. "These preparations," they wrote, "would create rivalry, suspicion and taxation in every country." They believed that, instead, Wilson should concentrate his efforts on the opportunity for the "establishment of permanent peace" that "this world crisis offers."

Transcription of "All Depends on the Point of View" Illustration

Source Dependent Questions

  • What role did the Woman's Peace Party feel the United States should have had in world affairs? What evidence does the letter provide for why the U.S. hesitated to get involved in World War I?
  • How do the arguments for neutrality corroborate or counter the arguments made by Reverend Johnston in his letter?
  • Reflect on the historical context of this document related to suffrage. How did the idea of the U.S. "helping war-torn nations" conflict with the treatment of women in the U.S. at the time?

Citation Information

"Woman's Peace Party to the President of the United States," 29 October 1915. Courtesy of Library of Congress Courtesy of Library of Congress

State Historical Society of Iowa

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