Idealism and Realism Essay

When Woodrow Wilson returned to the United States from the 1919 Paris Peace talks, he began campaigning within the United States for the ratification of the League. He had expected this to be a easy process. However, there were many opponents to the League of Nations, including a small group of Republican Senators and Congressman. These government officials were supported by isolationists who wanted to keep the United States out of world affairs. They

In the aftermath of World War I, during the years 1917-1921, President Wilson advocated the Treaty of Versailles, which called for the principle of self-determination, the formation of a League of Nations, and general amnesty towards Germany, as the solution for peace. However, his unwillingness to compromise led to widespread disagreement. The opposition forces in the U.S. senate consisted of the reservationists, who were willing to ratify the Treaty of Versailles with amendments, and the irreconcilables, who refused to join the League of Nations under any circumstances. If President Wilson was only willing to modify the language of the treaty, ratification may have occurred.

The end of World War I left much of America confused on the country’s role in world affairs. Many people believed that the United States should primarily worry about its own issues and problems, and let the world handle their own problems. But President Woodrow Wilson was not one of those people. He believed that the United States should be directly involved in the issues affecting all of the countries of the world. He also wanted the United States to be the country to make a push for a League of Nations. “The people of the United States could act upon no other principle; and to the vindication of this principle they are ready to devote their lives, their honor, and everything that they possess. The normal climax of this the culminating and final war for human liberty has come, and they are ready to put their own strength, their own highest purpose, their own integrity and devotion to the test.” Wilson believed that if the United States needed to be a part of a League of Nations in charge of keeping peace around the world, this would keep America

They agreed with most of the treaty that was presented to them, after the negotiations with Britain and France; however, they had an issue with the League of Nations. They did not want the United States to have to answer to the League or be tied to other countries. They believed that by joining the League, the United States would no longer be in control of its own foreign policy, jeopardizing its independence (Document A). They further believed that the American people, who up to this point had historically been isolationists (not wanting to be involved in foreign affairs), were not ready to support American participation in the League of Nations. Furthermore, they believed that collective security was unlikely to work - it would help with large scale issues like World War, but it would be counterproductive when it came to minute disputes, and they did not want the United States to be tied down by foreign entanglements and alliances (Document E). Wilson, however, was uncompromising, he realized that if the League was created without the United States in the it, Britain and France would take control and punish Germany economically for the war, which they did, and it led to another world

Senator Gilbert Hitchcock’s address was titled, “The trouble with Senators who oppose the League of Nations”. Hitchcock was a democrat, like President Wilson, and felt that the United States should join the League of Nations. He states, “The trouble with Senators who

Wilson believed that the League of Nations would be able to deal with any issues as they arose. He also hoped the League would be able to make changes to the treaties later if there were any injustices; this meant the League was the most vital element of the peace settlement as far as the Americans were concerned. However, the Senate voted against USA membership of both the League of Nations and the Treaty of Versailles, and Henry Cabot Lodge spoke out against the League on the grounds that membership might endanger the existence of the USA by involving it in unnecessary wars. This demonstrated a lack of appreciation at home for Wilson’s peace-making efforts, which was enhanced by economic problems such as high inflation and issues in the job market caused by the rapid demobilisation of the armed forces. There was a sense of war weariness and many people began to feel that the rewards of the war had not been worth the costs; 117,000 Americans were killed. His ideals and policies were decisively rejected in 1920 and the Democratic Party suffered a catastrophic defeat in the presidential election. Wilson had become seriously ill after suffering a stroke but would not allow anyone else to take over, so it was difficult for them to focus on choosing a new presidential candidate. By then Most of the country supported isolationism.

Wilson's peace plan, known as the Fourteen Points, introduced the idea of the League of Nations. The League of Nations would bind together all of the countries involved in order to resolve conflicts peacefully and protect independence. Wilson very much wanted the United States to be a part of the League, which would prevent a return to isolationism (Document G). Article Ten of the Treaty of Versailles outlines some of the obligations attached to being a member of the League. This article states that if any nation who is a part of the League is under attack or in danger, all other countries are mandated to come to their aid (Document E). The League of Nations, and this article in particular, caused a great deal of controversy in the U.S. Henry Cabot Lodge, a Reservationist senator, gave a speech to show his objection to the League. Lodge believed the United States should focus its efforts on self-betterment, rather than being forced to "play the part of umpire" in European affairs of no direct interest (Document D). Lodge's discontent with the circumstances that would be created by the League were also shared by the majority of senators, leading to the rejection of the Treaty of Versailles. This decision allowed the U.S. to return to its former isolated

In his mind, the establishment of this “League of Nations” as it would come to be called, would be an essential part of the post-war peace treaties. In Wilson’s opinion, the USA would have to play a major role in this League of Nations. In Wilson’s eyes, that was the only way to guarantee a lasting peace.

A second way in which it was a turning point was that Wilson set forth for a plan for “just and secure peace,” and not merely “a new balance of power.” His Fourteen Points outlined his vision for a safer and democratic world, whilst the proposal of an international organisation to serve as a forum against any future escalating conflicts emphasised this (The League of Nations). However, the European leaders ignored each of Wilson’s points one by one, forcing Germany to admit guilty to the war and pay endless amounts of reparations (The war guilt clause). The US Senate believed that any involvement in The League of Nations (part of the treaty) could place America at the forefront of oversea problems and therefore could not ratify it as it could be of no benefit to the country or its people. This fits in with her return to isolationist policy and the passing of the Neutrality Law in 1937. Therefore, The USA’s entry could merely be seen as a milestone as they entered the war as an associated power in order to avoid foreign

In his Fourteen Points speech, he said, “A general association of nations must be formed under specific covenants for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity to great and small states alike.” He believed states should work together and not let differences divide them so as to avoid another large-scale war like this one was. Leaders and delegates from all over the world met at this conference to discuss rules and regulations for how the League would operate, with meetings lasting for months, arguing over clauses and what should the League of Nations should be allowed to do or take control of. After four months of discussions and negotiations, the League of Nations adopted their “covenant”, as Wilson called it, and would rule as an assembly of countries to meet

Wilson’s final point promoted the League of Nations. The creation of an International organization would allow

Woodrow Wilson failed to sell his peace plan because Europe’s resentment for Germany was so strong. Additionally, many European countries did not yet want to give up their territories or arms. Moreover, the legislature did not approve his plans because he failed to appease the Republicans. Not one of his peace delegates was a Republican. American still had its isolationist roots and getting involved in a League of Nations proved to be too risky.

In 1918 the US senate got together and consulted on the idea of the League of Nations. The League of Nations was brought the Senate and was not passed because the majority voted against the League of Nations. The leader of the republican, henry Cabot Lodge saw some flaws in the League of Nations. One part of the league of nations rules said ”the united states must respect the territorial integrity

2. League of Nations – Woodrow Wilson wanted the United States to join the League of Nations as it was “the only hope of mankind…Dare we reject it and break the heart of the world?” Wilson wanted to prevent another WW1 like war from happening. He wanted to keep peace among all nations. Roosevelt distrusted Wilson

Politics: Politically, the 1920s could be described as pro-business and anti-union. These two main principles of our political time period directly contrast that of the error of reforms pre-war America was in. Coming into this decade, the war has come to an end and now the U.S believes it is time for a hedonistic interlude. A time of less reforms and more business. Post-war America is a start of a new chapter for our young country which obviously comes with its own set of problems.