Wilson & the Paris Peace Talks Peace Without Victory

American Exceptionalism US is exemplar for the world –Democracy- Americans are born with the right to democracy –Individualism-Don’t allow others to interfere with our ideals –Fundamentally Good- Altruistic, what we do for the world is for the good of others

1918 Congressional Elections Wilson was highly partisan, urged Americans to vote for Democrats Said that Republicans had become a nuisance. Wilson made the mistake of not extending an olive branch to the GOP GOP regains control of the House and the Senate

Paris Peace Talks 12/4/1918- American delegation leaves for Paris There was concern that Wilson would not be on “home turf” 12/13/1918 (Friday)- American delegation arrives Wilson is the first American President to visit Europe while serving as President The United States becomes the hope of the world.

Wilson’s Fourteen Points Wilson’s plan for peace 1. Open covenants of peace, openly negotiated 2. Absolute freedom of navigation of the seas 3. Removal of all economic barriers & the establishment of an equality of trade conditions among all the nations 5. A free, open-minded, & absolutely impartial adjustment of all colonial claims

League of Nations 14. The creation of a general association of nations for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of political independence & territorial integrity to great & small nations alike

Wilson’s Problems at Home GOP has no vested interest in the Treaty of Versailles, because Wilson did not involve them in the treaty process. Per the US Constitution, all treaties must be approved by the US Senate. Members of the Senate question Wilson’s League of Nations

Henry Cabot Lodge (R. MA) Lodge became the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee Lodge questions Article 10 of the Treaty of Versailles- All members of the League of Nations must be obligated to protect all other members from aggression. He & his supporters became known as the Reservationists.

Lodge (continued) Lodge said that this went against the Monroe Doctrine. Said it violated our Constitution, our Tradition, & our Sovereignty. Lodge’s Reservations (36 of them) presented to Wilson, angers him. A hearing was called where Lodge read all 300 pages of the treaty. It took 3 weeks. Lodge extended & protracted hearings.

Irreconcilables These were Senators who had voted against the US going to war. They vowed to vote against the Treaty of Versailles, no matter what. Most vocal against the war & the treaty –William Borah (R. ID) –Hiram Johnson (R. CA) Had previously been a member of the Progressive Party

Wilson’s Reaction Wilson believed that he was an instrument of God, and that God wanted the League of Nations Believed that those in the Senate who questioned him were going against God; therefore, they were evil. League of Nations was defeated in the US Senate

Wilson’s Health had a stroke & lost the vision in his left eye had another stroke & right side was partially paralyzed suffered from the “Spanish Flu”

Wilson’s Cross-Country Tour Decided that he would take his case on the League of Nations to the people Warned by his physician NOT to do this Wilson speaks to the people to try to force them to force their Congressional Representatives & Senators to pass the League of Nations

The Massive Stroke While on his cross-country tour, Wilson suffers a massive stroke. His wife, Edith, would NOT let anyone know this had happened. Secretary of State Lansing confronted Edith & told her that she had to let the Vice President know so he could act as President until Wilson recovered. She refused.

Madam President Edith Wilson controlled access to her husband. No one besides Lansing knew of Wilson’s stroke & incapacitation She controlled access for five months until he recovered enough to function as President. She acted as President until his recovery. Is this Constitutional?

The Results The League of Nations was defeated by Congress. –Wilson commented that he might have been better off dead. The Treaty of Versailles was NEVER ratified by the US Senate GOP easily won the 1920 Presidential election