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Step into the shoes of President Wilson’s top advisor in this immersive simulation and extension project that brings the “road to war” alive for your students. In Telegrams and Torpedos: Advising Wilson in 1917, learners analyze the diplomatic and moral crossroads faced by the United States as it moved from neutrality to war.
Beginning with an interactive simulation that positions each student as a trusted policy advisor in the White House, participants evaluate unrestricted submarine warfare, the sinking of the Lusitania, and the infamous Zimmermann Telegram before recommending a final course of action to President Wilson.
After the simulation, students extend their understanding through a persuasive propaganda project. The Wilson War Council: Persuading a Nation will allow students to create historically authentic materials to convince Americans either to support or resist U.S. entry into World War I.
Telegrams and Torpedoes: Historical Context - This student-facing resource (America’s Dilemma in 1917) provides essential background on U.S. neutrality, unrestricted submarine warfare, the sinking of the Lusitania, and the Zimmerman Telegram. It is designed to prepare students for the simulation while grounding their understanding of America’s shift from isolation to intervention in historical context
Telegrams and Torpedos Simulation Instructions – A detailed, step-by-step facilitator guide complete with teacher controls, student prompts, and structured decision rounds that explore neutrality, submarine warfare, the Lusitania, and the Zimmermann Telegram.
The Wilson War Council: Persuading a Nation – This creative extension project challenges students to step into the role of journalists, citizens, and policymakers as they persuade the public for or against U.S. entry into World War I. It is built to extend the simulation experience while connecting historical analysis to rhetoric, media, and public sentiment in the early twentieth century.
The Wilson War Council Rubric – A clear, 100-point rubric, used to assess the student submission made for the The Wilson War Council: Persuading a Nation extension activity.
Step into the shoes of President Wilson’s top advisor in this immersive simulation and extension project that brings the “road to war” alive for your students. In Telegrams and Torpedos: Advising Wilson in 1917, learners analyze the diplomatic and moral crossroads faced by the United States as it moved from neutrality to war.
Beginning with an interactive simulation that positions each student as a trusted policy advisor in the White House, participants evaluate unrestricted submarine warfare, the sinking of the Lusitania, and the infamous Zimmermann Telegram before recommending a final course of action to President Wilson.
After the simulation, students extend their understanding through a persuasive propaganda project. The Wilson War Council: Persuading a Nation will allow students to create historically authentic materials to convince Americans either to support or resist U.S. entry into World War I.
Telegrams and Torpedoes: Historical Context - This student-facing resource (America’s Dilemma in 1917) provides essential background on U.S. neutrality, unrestricted submarine warfare, the sinking of the Lusitania, and the Zimmerman Telegram. It is designed to prepare students for the simulation while grounding their understanding of America’s shift from isolation to intervention in historical context
Telegrams and Torpedos Simulation Instructions – A detailed, step-by-step facilitator guide complete with teacher controls, student prompts, and structured decision rounds that explore neutrality, submarine warfare, the Lusitania, and the Zimmermann Telegram.
The Wilson War Council: Persuading a Nation – This creative extension project challenges students to step into the role of journalists, citizens, and policymakers as they persuade the public for or against U.S. entry into World War I. It is built to extend the simulation experience while connecting historical analysis to rhetoric, media, and public sentiment in the early twentieth century.
The Wilson War Council Rubric – A clear, 100-point rubric, used to assess the student submission made for the The Wilson War Council: Persuading a Nation extension activity.