WASHINGTON, At 8:30 American time, evening of April, President Wilson appeared before a joint session of Congress and asked for a declaration of war against Germany in order to, “make the world safe for democracy.” On May 7th, a British-owned Ocean liner was fired upon without waring off the coast of Ireland. Of the 1,959 passengers, 1,198 were killed, including 128 Americans. The U.S demanded compensation and an end to German attacks on unarmed passenger and merchant ships. In August, Germany pledged to see the safety of passengers before sinking unarmed vessels. Although, in November another liner was sunk without warning, killing 227 people, including 27 Americans. In March Germany announced instructed submarine warfare again ships supplying
With the status of the country’s belligerency heavily in question, an apprehensive President Woodrow Wilson prepared to request from an unmotivated and unprepared country a declaration of war against Germany. After exerting every attempt possible to retain the peace and honor of the United States, the President was finally forced to choose between the two, in which he opted for the latter (Seymour 26). As he sat down to compose his congressional address proposing war, the uncertainty of his decision overwhelmed him. He confided to a member of his cabinet, Frank Cobb, that he had never been as unsure about anything in his life as the judgment he was making for the nation (Baker 506). Through a rhetorical analysis of Wilson’s points of
into war. Wilson’s vowed to hold German’s in “strict accountability” (Zieger, 23) of future American rights violations. The Germans agreed to not attack ships without warning. Wilson’s harsh stance on German tactics and his non-equal treatment of Britain would lead to the resignation of his Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan and the end of the United States “true neutrality”.
When President Wilson sought to enter the war, however, his objectives went beyond the defense of U.S. maritime interests. In his War Message to Congress, he stated that the U.S. objective was “to vindicate the principles of peace and justice in the life of the world.” The U.S. Senate voted On April 4, 1917, in support of the measure to declare war on Germany. Two days later the House concurred. [5]
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
President Woodrow Wilson had secured the political clout to establish foreign policy after World War I. However, the Europeans, especially the two major powers in Europe, England and France had the right to be circumspect of several aspects of Wilson’s plan. The German Delegation utilized President Wilson’s analogy that, “no single fact caused the war, but that in last analysis the whole European system is in a deeper sense responsible for the war…” (Comments of the German Delegation, 1919). European leaders could have taken offense to Wilson’s plan. President Wilson’s represented a nation that was protected by thousands of miles of oceans, and during the war the United States suffered no loss of infrastructure and economically their markets made money during the war. However, that was not the case for the European political leaders. They truly had an ax to grind against Germany. France with closer proximity to Germany than England elected to be protective and leery of Germany’s intentions after the war. Germany on the other hand was distraught over the terms laid before them by the Europeans at the Paris Peace Conference. The Germans believed they were being singled out, and that through the attrition of their sovereign territory they were losing vast economic resources and their ability to establish self-determination and self-preservation.
At the same time they attempted to sway Mexico into a alliance with them in case the United States declared war on Germany. The "Zimmerman Telegram" was intercepted by Allied forces and given to President Wilson. Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany on April 2, 1917. While Germany had done nothing to threaten our U.S. security, Wilson said in his speech that we would enter the war "to make the world safe for democracy". (Zieger, 53) A point that later spurn the effectiveness of Wilson's influence over peace was that America entered the war as an "associated power" rather than a true Ally.
It may look this way at first, but the picture actually shows much more than what might be seen at first glance. There is a two documents that Wilson is seen holding in the picture. One of those documents clearly says, “Congress the war declaring body called to convene,” and has the date April 2 printed on it. The other document that Wilson is holding in his other hand says, “American ships sunk without warning, american lives lost. The second document that Wilson is holding that details the sunk american ships is clearly referring to the Lusitania, which was sunk without warning on May 7, 1915. This can also be seen as an example of Yellow Journalism which was heavily put into use at the time to rile up the americans and push the agenda of war. The other document says that congress is meeting to declare war. This is clearly alluding to president Woodrow Wilson calling congress to meet in April 2, 1917. What makes this obvious is the date that can be seen written on the document. What ties these two documents together is the fact that the U.S was pulled into the war because of the sinking of the Lusitania. Woodrow signing the document to call congress to convene while holding the news of the sinking of the Lusitania only shows that he has retaliation in mind. There the congress convened and declared war on Germany and its allies. The U.S finally enter
President Woodrow Wilson’s “War Message” addresses the momentous event of breaking neutrality and declaring war on the German government. Wilson explains that America can no longer remain stagnant. He calls his audience to action, through a tactical combination of both structured logic and emotional inclusion. Wilson begins his deduction with several points, starting with the details of the submarine warfare and the “wholesale destruction of men, women, and children” endured not only by the American people but various other countries (2). Wilson asserts that neutrality is no longer possible since peace and the freedom of the individuals of the world were under a direct threat (5). He reassures the audience that although his intentions were the same and he fully intended on keeping the American people safe, avoiding the war and remaining uninvolved was no longer a reality (4).
The death of these Americans angered Woodrow Wilson and ordered that “Germany abandoned its “unlawful” tactics,” (Brinkley, P.515). Wilson had the power to declare war on Germany but instead used his power to maintain America a neutral country and defending its interests even after Germany attacked American civilians a second
On April 2, 1917, President Wilson wrote and spoke one of his famous speech: War Message. President Wilson wants to ensure the people 's hope and faith from the war. As President Wilson (1917) stated in his speech "Each nation must decide for itself how it will meet it... Our motive will not be revenge or the victorious assertion of the physical might of the nation, but only the vindication of right, of human right, of which we are only a single champion."was to fix the issue the nation was in. President Wilson wants to show the people that we need to get involved war for the loss of many American lives that Germany took. Wilson persuades to Congress to go to war. President Wilson shows his persuasion effectively by using rhetorical strategies. Each strategy he used gave more persuasion to Congress to declare war on Germany. All the persuasion he used to convince Congress was put in his famous speech War Message.
Woodrow Wilson’s speech” War Message to Congress” describes the United Sates entry into World War 1, and the greatest threat to freedom in the entire world. Wilson considers the greatest threat to freedom in the world is an autocratic government. Autocratic is referring to someone who is in complete power, which in the case he was talking about the government of the German people. Wilson said,” The menace to peace and freedom lies in the existence of autocratic governments backed by organized force which is controlled wholly by their will, not by the will of their people” (Wilson 1). He is saying that the problem does not lie with the Germen people, but the autocratic government. The citizens of Germany have no say in what their government decides. Wilson is extremely hesitant to enter the war, but after Germany attacking ships with American citizens on them, he has no choice but to declare war on them. Since Wilson sees the autocratic government being the greatest threat to freedom, his intentions of the
He knew he had to do something to stop the tyrannical German government from wreaking any more havoc upon the lives of civilians (Wilson). President Wilson's speech is very characteristic of the Age of Disillusionment because, like many works during the age, his speech is about people coming to terms with the fact that their loved ones have died and how they feel hopeless for a better life. During this age, people began to question whether they were safe (Hitt). President Wilson says the only way to ensure a safer life and better future for all, was to go to war with Germany. He knew that people would be scared to take such a large risk, and knew that many would die, but he also knew that it must be done. Four days after his speech, the United States of America officially entered World War I (Wilson). The amount of loss that was to come in the war would only lead to Americans being more fearful and the feeling of disillusionment during the age would only grow. As a result, the literary aspect of the Age of Disillusionment flourished and quickly became one of the most influential ages in American
In August 1914, Europe descended into war, without the support of U.S. Wilson refuses to get involve in the European conflict, until German forced Wilson to declare war on the central powers because of German’s declaration of unrestricted submarine warfare. When the war ended in November 11, 1918, Wilson negotiated a covenant for the League of Nation that he believed would sustain a world order. However at home, the congress rejected the League of Nations. Now, Wilson is admired by some scholars while hated by others. Some has praised him for his vision, while others criticized him for his impractical ideal.
To declare war against somebody there has to be a reason behind it. Woodrow Wilson felt the need to interfere with Germany’s plans during the Great War or World War I. He saw that Germany was a threat to society’s peace during the time. Various reasons brought the image of Germany being a threat in Wilson’s eyes.
When the First World War erupted in Europe on July 28, 1914; President Woodrow Wilson formally proclaimed that the United States would remain neutral on August 4, 1914. However, the United States did not stick to this proclamation, and eventually became involved in the war efforts. This investigation aims to evaluate the reasons the United States violated their neutrality in order to join the war. In inquiring into the reasons of the United States’ entry into the war, the Zimmermann telegram will be assessed. Primary sources, Message to Congress., 2d Sess., Senate Doc and War Messages, 65th Cong., 1st Sess. Senate Doc. No. 5 by Woodrow Wilson will also be assessed. Online sources, for example