Woodrow Wilson

Paper Summary:

This paper is an in-depth analysis of American policy, as set by President Woodrow Wilson during World War I. This paper examines the make-up of the American population at the time and Wilson's pledge that the U.S. would remain neutral at all costs. Germany's behavior during war, its brutality, atrocities and constant violations of the international rules of warfare are presented in order to understand some of the factors that influenced Wilson's decision to enter the war as a full participant. The author examines Woodrow Wilson the man, his belief system and the influences that affected his decisions, both personal and political. The paper also examines the different policy options that the American president was advised to take and how the America's relationship with Britain, both as a trading and political partner, affected his decision to join the allies fight against German aggression. The discussion of policy between the different government agencies in the United States, American public opinion and the influence of the media on Wilson's conduct of the war are also examined in detail.

From the Paper:

"Wilson was willing to go to war, to sacrifice countless lives, for the sake of imposing on the world a new order, with his own country at the helm. How this differs significantly from a war of aggression is hard to say. His talk of peace was always of a peace ruled by America, a factor which repeatedly drove Britain and France from the table, and surely would have alienated Germany as well had the talks gotten underway. In the end, he chose to prepare for and send America to war over the religious ideals of his democratic new order, rather than act according to his nation's stated doctrines of neutrality."

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