During this essay we will be looking at President Woodrow Wilson’s 14 points [comma] paying particular attention to the three points that were the most important to him. I will also identify the history behind why these 14 points were established and drafted, to include the mindset and core beliefs of the President (particularly his formal years). Next we will take a look at the politics of the Treaty of Versailles, explicitly looking at why it failed in the United States Senate and the individuals who were responsible for its demise. The final part of this essay will give notice to foreign policy in the United States during the 1920’s under President’s Harding and Coolidge; also, their administrations handling and stance on the three principle points from the fourteen.
BODY:
Before we begin to dissect and describe Presidents Wilson’s 14 points we must first understand who he was, his core beliefs and his upbringing, this is important because it shapes Wilson’s beliefs in not only politics and foreign affairs but also his principles. The son of a Presbyterian minister born in 1856, his childhood included memories of education by his father and union soldiers of the civil war. Wilson attended college at the College of New Jersey (later renamed and now known as Princeton), and his graduate degree from John Hopkins. Both degrees were in history with the graduate degree including political science. Wilson’s wife Ellen (prior to her death) encouraged Woodrow to work for the poor and social reforms. As the President of Princeton and the Governor of New Jersey, Wilson sought to reform policies and procedures such as eliminating elitist rites on campus like social eating clubs which he wanted to replace with common e...
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... congress “the league is as dead as slavery”. So obsessed with their hatred of the league they refused to open any correspondence from Geneva, and threatened the league with sanctions if they tried to enforce or include America in any of its policies. Specifically they were eluding to “the United States would disrupt any attempt of the League to carry out a program of collective security through the use of sanctions, Leuchtenburg, Perils of Prosperity, pg. 106”
CONCLUSION:
In summary we have looked at the fourteen points of President Woodrow Wilson, identifying the three major points from them. We discussed the senate’s response to the 14 points to include their stance on the League of Nations, giving special attention to those who opposed the ratification. Finally, we ended with a brief description of foreign policies under Harding and Coolidge.
When the peace processes were to start after the finishing of World War One, there were four people who were major components in the treaty of Paris: Clemenceau, George, Orlando, and Wilson. Clemenceau wanted revenge on the German's by punishing them through the treaties because he believed that they were at fault for the war; George was in agreement with Clemenceau although he did not feel that Germany should suffer severe punishment; Orlando who wanted the irredenta to be re-established; and President Wilson of the United States of America wanted to create a mild peace with Germany in a fair way. In view of this, Wilson created fourteen points that he wanted accomplished in full as a result of the peace treaties. His fourteen points were his plan for a world peace and included plans for the end of secret treaties, freedom of the seas, free trade, arms reduction, the just settlement of colonial claims, the establishment of a League of Nations, and the evacuation of occupied territories and national self-determination. Many of his points were carried out in the Treaty of Versailles, although not all of them were successful or followed completely.
Wilson, T. W. (n.d.). "Fourteen Points" Avalon Project - Documents in Law, History and Diplomacy. Retrieved April 14, 2011, from http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/wilson14.asp
Between 1895 and 1920, the years in which William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, William Taft, and Woodrow Wilson reigned in the presidents, the United States struggled for not only justice at home but abroad as well. During this period policies such as Roosevelt’s Big Stick diplomacy, William Taft’s Dollar diplomacy, and Woodrow Wilson’s Moral diplomacy were all used in foreign affairs in hopes of benefit for all involved. However, it would be appropriate to say that self-interest was the most important driving factor for American policy and can be exemplified through economic, social, and political relations.
Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States and held the office from 1913-1921. He became known as “the Crusader” due to his foreign policy theory that America should be a beacon of liberty and aggressively pursue the spread of democracy throughout the world. His policy would enable America to prosper economically and develop an international security community through the promotion of democracy in other nations. While former Secretary of State Kissinger writes in his book Diplomacy that 20th century American foreign policy has been driven by Wilsonian idealism, an analysis of 21st century US foreign policy reveals that, in fact, US foreign policy has been influenced by ideals that can be characterized as Hamiltonian, Jeffersonian, and Jacksonian as well.
America’s entrance into World War I is seemingly peculiar in that it was perhaps the first instance in which the United States militarily intervened in any situation outside of the context of continental American politics. Therefore, a change in foreign policy is quite evident, and in fact, historical fact. Thus, when one is to analyze the circumstances surrounding America’s involvement in the “Great War”, it would be of the most importance for one to examine the reasoning behind this aforesaid shift in policy. There are mainly two factors which appear to have precipitated this shift: an increase in economic ties with European nations, and an adjustment to the manner whereby the United States determined how it may interact with foreign powers. When inspecting these elements, one should also question the extent to which they may uphold, or possibly betray, traditional American values--if at all. Essentially, an increase in the strength of, and the American value placed upon, trade with European economies, and an apparent shift in how Americans viewed themselves in context to global affairs, seem to have been the primary forces which may have initiated a change in foreign policy around the year of 1917; with both of which resulting in a potential deviation from traditional American values.
In his book, “Woodrow Wilson Revolution, War, and Peace” by Arthur Link, Link walks step by step through President Woodrow Wilson’s career beginning from the time he was born and focuses on his role during and after World War I. Through his entire book, Link acts as an apologist for the actions of Wilson as well as argues against the opinions of other historians. Link speaks about Wilson almost as if he idolizes him; as if despite what other historians and public opinion might say that he can do no wrong.
The progressive era was a period of social activism and political reform in the United States. The political climate was ripe for reform and America was seeking leaders who could provide a new, more beneficial direction. Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson were two of the most renowned presidents of this era. One kindred goal of both of these presidents was to monitor and rectify large trust and monopolies in the U.S. Despite the fact that Wilson and Roosevelt’s domestic policies were correlative of each other, their foreign policies were very different from one another. Roosevelt tended to become more involved with foreign events. On the other hand, Wilson favored remaining impartial in foreign affairs. Wilson didn’t want to become entangled in World War 1 until the United States had been directly stricken.
Although hesitant to enter war, President Woodrow Wilson knew the United States had to intervene to help bring world order. Wilson gave two speeches, one before the US entered the war and one after the conclusion of the war. The first speech was directed towards the Senate and focused on the US entering the war to bring peace and safety to all nations in the world. However, the second was directed towards Congress and focused on ending hostilities and repairing the damages made during the war while striving for global cooperation. The theme of both was for the most part, similar, but there are some noticeable differences, such as the vagueness of one and the preciseness of the other, in terms of the US’ role in determining the agreements after
The Roaring Twenties was a time of transformation, transition, and change in all aspect of life from the previous era. Everyday life for many people was changed. Products became cheaper and buying on credit became available. Although these transitions were made, not everybody was able to benefit from them.
“Until early in [the twentieth] century, the isolationist tendency prevailed in American foreign policy. Then, two factors projected America into world affairs: its rapidly expanding power, and the gradual collapse of the international system centered on Europe” . President Woodrow Wilson was the leader who would initiate the ideologies of American diplomacy in the twentieth century. Up until his Presidency, American foreign policy was simply to fulfill the course of manifest destiny, and to remain free of entanglements overseas. Although he could not convince his fellow politicians on Capitol Hill of the probable success of his ideas, he did persuade the fellow writers of the Treaty of Versailles to use his Fourteen Points. America’s role as a political global superpower was established during his Presidency, as well as the modern policy that peace depends on the spread of democracy, and that national interest consists of adhering to a global system of law.
The United States (US) President Woodrow Wilson “Fourteen Points” speech was initially thought to be an acceptable proposal for peace following the First World War; however, they sparked many controversial issues and were not readily accepted by all the nations involved. His idealistic views were in favor of American Foreign Policies, Allied bias and additional powers in Western Europe. The Fourteen Points were less beneficial to the problem that Europe was encountering and more favorable to the Allied Powers, as the United States main focus was to become a more dominant nation, while the Great Britain wanted more rule over the seas and France on the other hand was seeking vengeance.
It was supposed to be a layout for peace and negotiations after the end of World War 1. It included free world trade and free access to the oceans. He clashed several times with George Clemeneau and David Lloyd George over how the defeated powers should be dealt with. The last of the Fourteen Points was the League of Nations, the basis of the Treaty of Versailles. The Treaty of Versailles was one of the treaties that ended World War 1 and forced Germany to take responsibility for her actions. Wilson campaigned across the country in order to gain favor for this treaty, and ended up collapsing and becoming bedridden after a stroke. The League of Nations was proposed by Wilson, but Congress didn’t approve it, so America never joined. In an attempt to spread Democracy, Wilson sent the Marines to Haiti and the Dominican Republic during their revolutions, but he failed to make Democratic states. Wilson also led the Philippines to the road of independence. It was said that the reason Wilson sent troops to Russia was because of how against communism he was. He was very motivated to making the world safe for democracy and was willing to do anything for it. Although Wilson became very ill while this was going on, he tried his hardest to make things work and was able to succeed in many ways, as shown above. He wanted to spread the ideas of the Fourteen Points, so he traveled through Europe, France, and
In the book, America’s Great War: World War I and the American Experience, Robert H. Zieger discusses the events between 1914 through 1920 forever defined the United States in the Twentieth Century. When conflict broke out in Europe in 1914, the President, Woodrow Wilson, along with the American people wished to remain neutral. In the beginning of the Twentieth Century United States politics was still based on the “isolationism” ideals of the previous century. The United States did not wish to be involved in European politics or world matters. The U.S. goal was to expand trade and commerce throughout the world and protect the borders of North America.
"Wilson’s Fourteen Points, 1918." U.S. Department of State Office of of the Historian. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Nov. 2013.
In the United States the league was met with fierce opposition from those who thought it unwise to enter America into a collective organization, which would restrict its power and influence. Congress especially concerned with Article X, which morally bound the U.S. to aid any member of the League of Nations that was victimized by aggression, and revoke...