State Historical Society of Iowa

Letter from W.E.B. Du Bois to U.S. Secretary of War Newton Baker Praising Ft. Des Moines, October, 17, 1917

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Courtesy of UMass Amherst Libraries, Du Bois, W.E.B. "Letter from W.E.B. Du Bois to Secretary of War," 17 October 1917

Description

This letter was sent from African-American activist and scholar W.E.B. Du Bois to President Woodrow Wilson in November 1918 as World War I was coming to an end. The letter discusses the need to address the "race problem" both abroad and within the United States after World War I. In the letter, Mr. Du Bois talks about the Peace Conference referring to the Paris Peace Conference, which would culminate in the Treaty of Versailles.

Transcript of W.E.B. Du Bois Letter to U.S. Secretary of War Newton Baker

Source Dependent Questions

  • What do you think Bu Bois' intent is in the 4th and 5th paragraphs of the letter where he talks about "consent of the governed" and "government by representation?
  • What contributions have African Americans made to the United States, according to Du Bois?
  • How does this letter compare to Du Bois' other letter to U.S. Secretary of War Newton Baker? Do you think he has a consistent message, or does he contradict himself? Use textual evidence to support your claim.
  • How does this letter show someone from a disenfranchised group attempting to advocate for rights?

Citation Information

Du Bois, W.E.B. "Letter from W.E.B. Du Bois to Secretary of War," 17 October 1917. Courtesy of UMass Amherst Libraries, permission of use granted by the David Graham Du Bois Trust Courtesy of Library of Congress