Woodrow Wilson's Response To Ww1

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

America’s involvement in World War I not only impacted the war front but also the people left on the home front. When America entered World War I in 1917 the government enforced many measures on its citizens, many of which violated constitutional rights. The biggest measure inflicted on the American population was censorship. The formation of the Committee on Public Information (CPI) and the passing of the Espionage Act and Sedition Amendment stole American’s freedom of speech, created an anti-German sentiment, and led to deportation during the post-war Red Scare.

This act made it a crime to “utter, print, write, or publish any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language about the form of government of the United States, or the military or naval forces of the United States, or the flag." The Espionage Act made it illegal to teach, suggest, defend, or advocate any criticism of the government (Carroll, 1919). President Wilson managed to push this act through Congress under the argument that there were many citizens of the United States who were pouring the “poison of disloyalty” into the country (Carroll, 1919). While the passing of this act could work in favor towards Wilson being considered a great president due to his ability to persuade Congress to pass it in the first place it also brings up the issue of looking at Neustadt’s model alone. The ability to persuade people to agree with something bad may make a person great but the same should not be true for a leader, especially an elected official like a president. It should be their duty to protect the rights of their people and not infringe upon them. The ability to persuade others to infringe upon those rights should not be attributed towards a “good” or “great” leader, especially since doing so would violate the Landy and Milkis model about how a good president should be like a (stern) father towards

Whenever war broke out overseas in 1914, many Americans had ties to countries involved. Many of citizens living here were immigrants or children of immigrants who came from Germany, France, or other countries involved in the war. Out of the 92 million citizens living in the states, one-third of them were hyphenated Americans. There was strong support of the Central Powers in the states due to the 8 million German-Americans and the 4 million Irish-Americans who disliked English rule. Yet, many Americans were pro Allies due to the language bond with Great Britain. America wanted to keep to their selves as war broke out in Europe and not get involved. President Woodrow Wilson would announce in 1914 that the Unites States would stay neutral during the war. Wilson would run by the slogan “Keep Us Out of the War” whenever he was running for re-election for presidency. Americas would trade with both parties and bankers could lend money to both sides involved in the war. Trading with Germany would eventually be blockaded and trade with Allies would increase.

The main reason for this legislation was to keep the United States isolated from the rest of the world, which many Americans believed would keep us safe from an attack on America. Americans were so afraid of a threat to the country, the United States disregarded one of its most beloved Amendments of the Constitution, the First which gives citizens the freedom of speech.

According to the Bill of Rights, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Nowhere in the First Amendment does it state that in times of war, the government can change the laws that have been made to protect the people of the United States. Although some thought President Wilson’s actions were just, he did not abide by the rules of the First Amendment, and because of that, he went too far in limiting people’s civil liberties during World War

Woodrow Wilson was the president of the United States of America at the time during WWI. The U.S was content with staying neutral during the first world war and it proved to be extremely beneficial for them as they became rich. The economic surplus that came with being neutral was enough reason for the U.S to stay out of the war. They were eventually pushed into participating in the war and played a key role in the allies victory. The reinforcements from the U.S helped tip the scales in the allies favor in the battle against Germany in the western front. Despite the great impact that the United States made by entering the war, it took many unfavorable events to push them out of neutrality. Some of those events are detailed in the first image

As soon as World War One broke out, Woodrow Wilson, the president at that time immediately declared the United States neutral to maintain the nation’s stability. President Wilson thought the United States should take no part in a war where they were not affected. But, as the war carried on it was evident that a stance of neutrality was just clearly not the case. Even though they were not fighting in World War I, the United States were definitely involved. Whether it be loaning goods to a party of the war or rising turmoil with a belligerent nation, America did take part in the war before their actual entry. Voluntary or involuntary, the United States involved themselves in the war in many ways , most definitely contradicting Wilson’s policy of neutrality.

When war erupted in Europe in 1914, the US adopted a policy of neutrality and seclusion. This policy was favored by a vast majority of Americans, especially those of German and Irish descent. The people of the United States were drawn from many nations, primarily from the nations at war. The deficiency of public unity was the primary concern when America entered the war on April 6, 1917. The Wilson Administration felt they needed to sway public opinion, because American

When America entered World War I in 1917 the U.S. Government enforced many measures on its citizens. Some of these measures violated constitutional rights. The biggest measure inflicted on the American population was censorship. The formation of the Committee on Public Information (CPI) and the passing of the Espionage Act and Sedition Amendment

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,

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).

Much like how President Wilson’s racial dealings showed the dark sides of his being a passive-negative president his vast support and activity for the Espionage Act also show some of these dark sides. Similar to how Wilson supported segregation for the sake of peace the same logic seemed to have applied to national peace during the First World War. All evidence again seems to point to the fact that President Wilson meant the Espionage Act to be an asset to the nation and help defend it against foreign subterfuge yet it is hard to believe that President Wilson wasn’t aware of the negative impacts such legislation would have (Carroll, 1919). It was American citizens more than anyone else who suffered under the Espionage Act and its enforcement. The act had made it virtually illegal to criticize the war or the government, restricting freedom of speech in a way that had never before been known in the United States (Carroll, 1919). It is hard to imagine that President Wilson, an intellectual and very intelligent man, had no idea that such a thing would occur. Instead it would appear to be far more likely that President Wilson knew of at least some of the negative consequences that the act was going to have and that he ultimately decided that it was better to limit free speech for the sake of peace and security (Stone, 2003).

Woodrow Wilson held the presidency during world war I. Woodrow Wilson differed from his predecessor Theodore Roosevelt when it comes to the matter of war. While it is believed likely that Roosevelt would have declared war on Germany much earlier than Wilson did. Wilson however was a centered around peace Wilson thought it better to remain neutral in the war until absolutely necessary. Throughout Woodrow Wilson’s career he did many great things but perhaps none greater than the three major pieces of legislation the first underwood tariff, the passage of the federal reserve act, which funded the nation. Woodrow Wilson felt like as if it was strictly the president’s job to look after and protect the people. In 1916 Woodrow Wilson sent out a surge of legislations one of which being a law that prohibited child labor, and another stating that railroad workers are limited to eight-hour day work limits. Both Roosevelt and Wilson did agree that the people needed to be protected from large business they both saw that them gaining too much power

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