President Woodrow Wilson's Decision To Enter World War I

World War I was probably history’s worst catastrophe, and U.S. President Woodrow Wilson was substantially responsible for the unintended consequences of the war. In 1916, President Wilson narrowly won re-election after campaigning on the slogan, "He kept us out of war; unbeknownst to the country, Wilson’s slogan would not remain true. Although the U.S. played a significant military role only during the last six months of the war, Wilson’s great mistake of joining the war cost the United States more causalities and money than ever necessary.

President Woodrow Wilson tried to remain neutral when World War I broke out in 1914, but failed when the sinking of the Lusitania, caused by German hands, killed 124 Americans (Foner, 734). President Wilson viewed Germany as “the natural foe of liberty,” and declared war on April 1917 by insisting that “The world must be made safe for democracy,” (Foner, 735, Schwartz 2/16/16). After the relentless battle between nations the war ended November 11th, 1918 (Schwartz 2/16/16). The government’s involvement during World War I extended, once radical progressive ideals, into reality by shaping paths for the United States to become politically involved with the world with Wilson’s fourteen-point plan, and at home by ratifying prohibition and women suffrage.

Woodrow Wilson, our 23rd president, became involved in a war that he did not want any part of. Wilson wanted to remain neutral and have peace as in his first term of office. During World War I Wilson’s roles in the war became well known in all countries. Wilson wanted peace more than anything else. In seeking for peace Wilson asked Congress for the U.S. to enter World War I. which may not sound like a peace strategy but Wilson felt it was the only way to stop Germany and gain peace. Wilson wrote his speech for world peace, Fourteen Points, that he was probably most famous for. He attended and played an integral part in The Treaty of Versailles. He was the founder of the League of Nations,

In 1917 the United States government enacted a much disputed law entitled the Espionage Act. It had been debated in the years leading up to the United States involvement in World War I. Faced with outspoken citizens who were critical of any direct participation in the war and with a growing fear that any public dissent would make it difficult to conscript the needed man power for U.S. involvement, President Woodrow Wilson’s administration looked to make such actions criminal. Throughout the almost 100 year history of the Espionage Act it has come to blows with the United States Constitution, particularly the First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech, on many occasions. Thousands of American’s have been charged under the Espionage Act’s

When World War One started, president Woodrow Wilson tried everything he can to avoid getting involved in the war. Although some trouble was started and some rules were broken. Woodrow Wilson was included into the war for because of this trouble. Germany illegally attacked the us. Woodrow Wilson’s reason for getting into war with Germany was because of the pledge Germany made was violated and Germany still traveled onto our land with restricted war ships, and because of Germany’s attempt to attack Mexico. One reason why that caused Wilson to go to war was because Germany went on our turf without permission and attacked our navy.America during the war had issued a declaration to remain unincluded with the

When World War I erupted in 1914, President Wilson initially wanted to distanced America by proclaiming neutrality. The stated reason for the entry of the United States was to protect democratic nations from the threat of anti-democratic ones. The attack from Germany helped to justify the need for America to enter the war, because of the German’s decision to resume the unrestricted submarine warfare. Unrestricted submarine warfare was a desperate effort to the British Naval blockade of Germany, but it would lead to the sinking of British and Allied ships (Norton pg, 593). For almost three years, America was kept out of the war. President Wilson asks Congress for a declaration of war, he says not only will we win the war but “make the world

Entering World War 1 was a very important decision for the United States that greatly affected its outcome. Two things stand out as the main reasons for entering the war. Firstly, was Germany’s unrestricted submarine warfare. Secondly, was the UK’s interception of the Zimmerman Telegram.

On April 6, 1917 the United States reluctantly entered World War I. In an attempt to bring peace President Woodrow Wilson gathered numerous advisors and had them put together a plan. He considered this war to be “the war that ends all wars”. This plan later became known as the fourteen points. The sole purpose of the fourteen points was to outline a strategy for ending the war. Wilson wanted to establish exactly what they were fighting for, if U.S. soldiers were going to risk their lives. On January 8, 1918 President Wilson gave a speech on war aims and peace terms. With this speech president Wilson set down fourteen points as a “blueprint” for world peace that was then used for peace negotiations after world war one. He directly addressed the issues he thought were the cause of the world war. Through this speech and the fourteen

Prior to World War I many nations increased their stockpiles of weapons and other instruments of warfare; therefore, the fourth point was to reduce armaments. Nations were expected to lower their armaments to a point that could be consistent with domestic safety. The fifth point was to decide a fair resolution for quarrels over colonial territory. Wilson was a proponent of self-determination, so colonies could have the right to their own future. The sixth point was to allow Russia to determine its own political stance and national policy. Nations must evacuate Russia and allow them to be independent in their future decisions. The seventh point was to evacuate and restore Belgian territory. Returning Belgium to its prior glory was essential, so international law would not be impaired. The eighth-point stated that France should be freed, and its prior territories restored. Also, a wrongdoing to France by Prussia in 1871 should be righted. This would return the territory of Alsace-Lorraine back to France.

Even though the United States initially tried to stay neutral during the warfare, trading ties to the Allies, anti-german propaganda, the Zimmerman Note, and Germany’s indiscriminate submarine attacks eventually forced the Americans to enter the brutal conflict in Europe on the side of the Allies. In his speech, Wilson justifies one of the main reasons why the Unites States entered World War I, which was America’s strive to preserve global democracy and to maintain a peaceful world order. The quotation above indicates the US departure from the policy of neutrality and calls for a more equable and cooperative world. However, after the end of World War I, the Unites States did not join the League of Nations and returned to the isolationist foreign

My mind is a hodgepodge of curiosities. In essence, it is dissonance. From the origins of language to precise angles at which to fold paper into works of engineering appraisal, my brain is an eternal battleground upon which inquiries duel for dominance. What my friends and teachers perceive as a crazy teenager bouncing off the walls is actually me trying to find muse for my next downtown sidewalk mural while inquiring about subjects beyond the textbooks in school, or maybe the recipe for a healthy zucchini bread. This pattern even lends to my streams of ideas for the Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, which range from the regeneration of neurons to the implications of cultural traditions and modern medicine.

There were many citizens, members of congress, and senate who opposed entering World War I. These people were attacked for stating their opinion which brought about the question of how well our democratic government was upholding specifically our rights to free speech. Some took their argument further than others and caused a lot of unnecessary danger. Many things happened that could have caused us to enter the war, Wilson tried to avoid but eventually saw it to be inevitable.

Just after the invasion of Poland by Germany, FDR had a hesitant decision to make: should America follow the steps of Woodrow Wilson to remain neutral or engage into war? Because of the relentless suppression and the act of obtaining allies of European countries, America should prepare for the inevitable war against Germany and their allies.

On August 4, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson delivered his proclamation declaring the U.S. an uninvolved neutral country in regard to WWI. The Great War, the war to end all wars was wreaking havoc all across Europe, but the American public desired to stay neutral. Reasons for neutrality included fear of losing loved ones, socialism because the war was believed to be to be a capitalist venture to protect imperialism, the rise of pacifists who believed war was wrong for any reason, and naturalized citizens afraid they would be forced to kill those from their old county on the battlefield. But by April 2, 1917 the country had chosen to enter the war for various reasons that were moral, economic and political. The U.S. was strongly justified in to enter the war for moral reasons, substantially justified economically, but weakly politically justified.

In the previous lectures, we discussed the end and the events took place of the World War I. After four long years of blood shedding the war ended on November 11, 1918. I am sure the war might have left its marks in the hearts of the innocent and harmless people of both sides, for several decades. I really liked President Wilson’s concept of peace, the 14 points, and the about the League of Nations. Those seemed more logical and just for both the sides of the War. While, is just not fair. I agree that the Allied Power won the war but blaming everything to Germany and not any other country of Central Power was not an act of injustice. I now believe that the treaty of Versailles was a spark for the huge fire that turned out after few decades,