The history of the United States is a colorful one; it has played a part in most of global major events. If it is a worldwide historical event, chances are the United States has a part in it in one way or another. Such events can be attributed to, and are the causes of America’s rise to superpower that it is today. The fact that America has a key role in some of world events can be considered proof that it is one of the world’s most influential countries, which ultimately gives credence to its reputation as ‘the land of the free’.
One of the famous world events in which America has had a part on was the infamous World War I, which happened during the years 1914 to 1918. During those times, the president of the United States was Woodrow Wilson, which played a major hand in controlling America’s stance towards the war. Throughout Wilson’s term, America for the most part stayed neutral throughout the World War, which sparked admiration and criticism from both sides of the spectrum. In the latter part of his term, he finally ceded to the popular view that America should join in the war—a decision which was heavily supported by Americans from all around, and a major factor in America joining the Allied Forces, which ultimately led to Germany’s defeat.
All in all, Wilson was well-known for his views on anti-imperialism and a morality-infused ideology, which he used in controlling America during matters of importance during World War I and which made him receive the Nobel Peace Prize of 1919.
Woodrow Wilson: An Overview
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the president of the United States for two terms from 1913 to 1921. He was the 28th president of the United States, following William Taft and preceding Warren Harding.
Wilson was born in the 28th of December 1856 in Stuanton Virginia. Bearing witness to the cruelties of civil war, he was raised under the Presbyterian faith, which influenced his views later on. He graduated from Princeton University in 1879, and from the Virginia Law School in 1880. He obtained a doctorate in political science from John Hopkins University in 1886, making him the first-ever president to hold office with a doctorate degree. His dissertation, entitled Congressional Government: A Study in American Politics analyzes in-depth how the political power during his time lies not in the White House, but in the congress. He also predicted that there will come a time where the legislative and executive branches of the government would not agree on anything due to political differences, and this might cause a standstill in the American politics.
Because of his efforts to improve Princeton University, as well as his achievements of being a governor in New Jersey, he has become a favorite of the Democrat Party. He was the representative of the party in the 1912 Presidential Elections, against Republicans William Howard Taft and Theodore Roosevelt, who chose to run under a third party. Because the votes of the Republicans were split between the two, he won the presidency (“Woodrow Wilson”).
Woodrow Wilson: Presidential Reforms
As a president, Woodrow Wilson has done many significant changes to improve the country’s economy in general. First, he began by abolishing by what he considered as the “triple wall of privilege” that is hampering the economy—the banks, the tariffs, and the trusts. In contrast to Taft and Roosevelt’s decisions to only break up trusts which are considered corrupt and to regulate business, Wilson wanted to break up all trusts so as to start economic growth anew and let the competition in the market regulate the economy itself. In addition, he wanted to abolish the Wall Street Bankers and to lower the prices of tariffs, both decisions which affected the United States economy greatly.
It can be said that some of his work is geared towards improving business practices. For example, the aforementioned breaking up of trusts falls under the antitrust legislation of 1914, and the lowering of tariffs falls under the Underwood At. In addition to these, he also decreed an eight-hour workday to railroad workers, and prohibited child legislation. His policy can be described on what he calls ‘New Freedom’, which emphasized the rights of individuals and the states above anything else.
Aside from these policies, one major thing known about Woodrow Wilson is his part in controlling America during the times of World War I, which occurred during the time of his presidency (“Biography: Woodrow Wilson”).
Woodrow Wilson: World War I Decisions
Because he has experienced firsthand how cruel and atrocious war can be, he resolved to keep his country America out of the way towards the ongoing world war and adopted a neutral stance. The aforementioned programs, besides having the goal to improve the economy of America, also have the motive of keeping his country out of the war. As he declared in his 1914 address to the Congress,
“Such divisions amongst us would be fatal to our peace of mind and might seriously stand in the way of the proper performance of our duty as the one great nation at peace, the one people holding itself ready to play a part of impartial mediation and speak the counsels of peace and accommodation, not as a partisan, but as a friend.” (Duffy)
This approach was not met with positive reception from all sides, however, and he was seen as being heartless because he has done nothing to alleviate the conditions of the countries around him. Despite many incidents that could potentially provoke the United States to start a war with Germany, like the declaration of British waters to be a war zone, the sinking of the British ship Fallaba including the death of one American, and the attack on American ships the Cushing and the Gulflight, Wilson still will not incite the Americans to start a war with Germany. Instead, he ruled those as mere accidents and not declarations of war against their country.
In May 1915, the Germans torpedoed the British liner RMS Lusitania in which over a thousand Americans perished. Many more other incidences such as these occurred, and Wilson threatened to terminate diplomatic relations unless the Germans would stop sinking unmanned ships. However, Germany protested that the ships they are sinking are carrying goods and resources to their enemy countries such as Britain. He made a plea for postwar world peace in May 1916, which was received by his European comrades as an action denoting indifference about the matter.
One particular incident, however, changed Wilson’s views about the matter and prompted him to ally with other countries to wage war against Germany. When Wilson was reelected in 1916, America’s stance for neutrality was found difficult to maintain after Germany has explicitly violated two of its pledges—the Arabic pledge and the Sussex pledge. The final straw for Wilson to declare war against Germany came in the form of the Zimmerman telegram, a message sent by Germany to Mexico in January of 1917 that requests Mexico to ally with Germany, on the promise that they would give back control of the states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas to Mexico should Germany win the war. The British intercepted the telegram; once the general public heard of this, it sparked an outrage that led the country declaring war with Germany in the April of the same year.
Wilson called the Congress to arrange a vote to make the war against Germany official. An overwhelming majority of the Congress voted yes, although there are still some who oppose. One of these is Jeanette Rankin, the first woman to sit in Congress. She said that as a female, she felt obligated to veto the vote in behalf of all the wives who do not wish their husbands and children to go to war.
The American support for the war has been stunning. Almost everyone beamed at the prospect of going to war, and those that are not were severely looked down upon. In order to save for the war, the Americans willingly sacrificed their lifestyles and overhauled their living conditions. They are encouraged not to eat certain foods at certain days, coining the terms ‘Meatless Mondays’ and ‘Wheatless Wednesdays’, and they cut back on costs such as automobile and the like. In order to fund the war, liberty bonds were used, which was purchased by many of the citizens to support the war (“Woodrow Wilson [1856 – 1924]”)
Entering World War I: Effects and Aftermath
One effect of America entering the World War I was the development of women’s suffrage, or their right to vote. Since men are out there fighting the war, there are a lot more jobs alternate for women and thus, they are seen as a necessity in society during the day and thus deserve a share of the voting population. In 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment was passed which gave women the right to vote. Wilson also created the Women’s Bureau to protect the rights of women in the workforce during the same year.
On the 11th of November 1918 Germany surrendered. Wilson, realizing that making Germany pay for its actions during the World War would only lead them in starting another war, created the Fourteen Points on principles for world peace. However, his European Allies—France, United Kingdom and Italy—were skeptical of Wilson’s ideology and were bent on making the Germany pay for the damages incurred in the war, so the Fourteen Points were largely abandoned (“Wilson – A Portrait”).
Conclusion
All in all, it can be said that Wilson is a major catalyst in improving America and guiding the country in light of the World War happening during his time. His ideologies largely influenced his view of staying neutral during wartime, although circumstances prompted him to take action against Germany. His ideology also prompted him to maintain world peace, fearing that another world war would break out if nations would not intervene. With that said, Wilson can be viewed as one of the logical presidents, using his brains and reason to maneuver America during times of peril.
Works Cited
“Biography: Woodrow Wilson”. The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum. Bulldog Creative Services, n.d. Web. 6 July 2016.
Duffy, Michael. “Primary Documents – U.S. Declaration of Neutrality, 19 August 1914”. FirstWorldWar.com. Michael Duffy, 22 Aug 2009. Web. 6 Jul 2016.
“Woodrow Wilson”. The White House. USA.gov. Web. 6 July 2016.
“Woodrow Wilson (1856 – 1924”). The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project. George Washington University, n.d.. Web. 6 Jul 2016.
“Wilson – A Portrait”. The American Experience. PBS.org, n.d. Web. 6 Jul 2016.
