Presidential Decisions: #28 Woodrow Wilson (D-NJ)

Decision: Changing from the foreign policy of neutrality to asking Congress to enter World War I on the side of the Allies to “make the world safe for democracy.”

Historical Circumstances (1/2): When World War I began in Europe (with the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, the United States wanted to stay out of the conflict. When World War I began in Europe (with the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, the United States wanted to stay out of the conflict. American foreign policy was based on neutrality in European wars, going back to first president George Washington. American foreign policy was based on neutrality in European wars, going back to first president George Washington. Woodrow Wilson, a Democrat, fought the Republican- majority Congress against preparation for and entry into the war. Woodrow Wilson, a Democrat, fought the Republican- majority Congress against preparation for and entry into the war.

Historical Circumstances (2/2): When the German navy began using unrestricted submarine warfare, American merchant ships headed to England and France were targeted to stop the supply of weapons to the Allies. When the German navy began using unrestricted submarine warfare, American merchant ships headed to England and France were targeted to stop the supply of weapons to the Allies. It was these attacks on American shipping that caused Wilson to change his stance and ask Congress to declare war on Germany and enter World War I. It was these attacks on American shipping that caused Wilson to change his stance and ask Congress to declare war on Germany and enter World War I.

SPECIFIC long-term effect (1/3): Upon entering the war, Wilson was focused on a detailed peace-plan he created, called the Fourteen Points of Light. He believed that his plan would prevent all future wars. Upon entering the war, Wilson was focused on a detailed peace-plan he created, called the Fourteen Points of Light. He believed that his plan would prevent all future wars. The most important part of his plan was the creation of an international peace-keeping organization called the League of Nations. The most important part of his plan was the creation of an international peace-keeping organization called the League of Nations. The League would allow countries a way to mediate their conflicts, instead of going to war. The League would allow countries a way to mediate their conflicts, instead of going to war.

SPECIFIC long-term effect (2/3): At the end of the war, Wilson traveled to Paris, France to negotiate the Treaty of Versailles. At the end of the war, Wilson traveled to Paris, France to negotiate the Treaty of Versailles. The Allies didn’t want to listen to Wilson’s peace-plan, wanting to punish Germany harshly instead, thinking that weakening the Germans would prevent another war. The Allies didn’t want to listen to Wilson’s peace-plan, wanting to punish Germany harshly instead, thinking that weakening the Germans would prevent another war. The only part of Wilson’s plan to make it into the Treaty was the League of Nations. The only part of Wilson’s plan to make it into the Treaty was the League of Nations.

SPECIFIC long-term effect (3/3): When Wilson returned to the U. S. with the Treaty, the Senate had to approve it (as outlined in the Constitution). When Wilson returned to the U. S. with the Treaty, the Senate had to approve it (as outlined in the Constitution). The Senate refused because they were unwilling to join the League of Nations, wanting to go back to being isolationist. The Senate refused because they were unwilling to join the League of Nations, wanting to go back to being isolationist. Because of the harsh treatment of Germany and the failure of the weak League, just twenty years later World War II occurred. Because of the harsh treatment of Germany and the failure of the weak League, just twenty years later World War II occurred.