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America should have minded her own business and stayed out of the World War. If you hadn't entered the war the Allies would have made peace with Germany in the Spring of 1917. Had we made peace then there would have been no collapse in Russia followed by Communism, no breakdown in Italy followed by Fascism, and Germany would not have signed the Versailles Treaty, which has enthroned Nazism in Germany. If America had stayed out of the war, all these 'isms' wouldn't today be sweeping the continent of Europe and breaking down parliamentary government - and if England had made peace early in 1917, it would have saved over one million British, French, American, and other lives.

Winston Churchill#110

HistoryPeaceGeopoliticsEuropeForeign policyIntervention

About this quote

What does it mean?
Churchill claims American entry into World War I caused negative political changes in Europe like Communism and Fascism.
In plain terms
He thinks if America stayed out, Europe would have made peace sooner and avoided those political systems.
What can you take from it?
Intervention in foreign conflicts can have unintended long-term political consequences.

Where it applies

  • foreign policy debates
  • historical analysis
  • war planning

Putting it to work

  • policy research
  • diplomatic strategy
  • teaching history

Questions to consider

  • When should nations stay out of foreign wars?
  • How do we measure the cost of intervention?

Another view

This view ignores the moral and strategic reasons for entering the war.

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