The Implications of Woodrow Wilsons Declaration of War Speech The Great War or World War One was the

first global conflict the world had ever seen. It began as a conflict between the Allied Powers who consisted of France, England, Japan, and Russia. They were against the Central Powers who consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire. Woodrow Wilson was dedicated to maintain neutrality in this European conflict and wanted to help find a peaceful solution, but this proved impossible because of Germanys hostile actions and intentions (Foner n.d.). On the day of April 2, 1917, Woodrow Wilson presented Congress with his Declaration of War Speech. This speech was in response to what had been stirring between the United States and Germany. Germany had started unrestricted submarine warfare and also Great Britain had received evidence of Germany trying to get Mexico and Japan to go to war against the United States with them (Judis 2004). The breaking point for the war came on the first of April 1917. A German submarine sank an armed United States streamer called the Aztec. Twenty eight crew members died in the assault. This was the final incident for Woodrow Wilson who had been extremely dedicated to neutrality in this European conflict and he responded by asking Congress to declare war on Germany through his declaration of war speech (www.history.com 2012). Woodrow Wilsons Declaration of War speech along with his view on how America could influence the world changed the First World War by not only joining the Allied Powers, but by also establishing the manner in which America would handle itself. The First World War broke out in 1914 and Woodrow Wilson proclaimed America neutral by. This proved to be a difficult situation for Wilson, but he would do everything in his power as President to secure neutrality as long as he could. Woodrow Wilson was a Democrat and one of the great intellectuals of his time. Wilson believed America had an obligation to assist

in the spreading of freedom and democracy around the world. The President proclaimed in his 1912 campaign that America was chosen, and prominently chosen, to show the way to the nations of the world how they shall walk in the paths of liberty (Judis 2004). Also in 1914, after the war first broke out along with the civil war in Mexico, he reiterated this statement I want to have the pride of feeling that America, if nobody else, has herself possession and stands ready with calmness of thought and steadiness of purpose to help the rest of the world. (Judis 2004). This view on America as a messenger of freedom to the world had greater implications on the First World War and future wars for the country than Wilson could have guessed. Woodrow Wilson had no intention of assisting in the conflict violently but peacefully. He did this by attempting to a neutral voice of reason between the Allied and Central Powers. This stance caused a lot of political conflict in America even though the majority of the population supported staying neutral as the war progressed, but the question was always there if we were going to go to war or not. Another issue was the fact there were so many European Americans, so this caused conflict on what stance America shouldve taken. German-Americans and other Americans from Eastern Europe felt America should join the Central Powers, vice versa with people from Western Europe. Any European heritage had an opinion on the war depending on where they were ethnically related to. This forced Wilson into a tough spot; he had to be careful on how he handled relations. The United States already had stable relations with the Allied Powers so Wilson focused his efforts on Germany when trying to find compromise between all these powerful nations. Wilson had to do this because Germany was the most dangerous to America because of submarine warfare. Submarine warfare lead to the downfall of any assist from America in peace compromise between the Central and Allied Powers. At this point it became inevitable that America would

have to become involved in some way. Germany in early 1915 declared that after February 18 all ships entering the waters around Great Britain would be subject to attack because that area was considered a war zone (Heckscher 1991). The first event that brings this fear to life was the sinking of a British Steamship called the Falaba. The event occurred off the coast of Africa and out of the 111 people that died one was American. This led too much discussion in the United Sates and Wilson was not absolutely sure what stance he should take on the attack. On May 2, 1915 a British passenger liner called the Lusitania set out for New York. The previous day the German Embassy had given warning that if the ship went into the war zone it would be under great risk. The Captain of the ship said there was no need to worry because the liner could outrun any submarine. This obviously did not prove true because a German Submarine sunk the Lusitania; the liner had 1,257 passengers were killed along with 128 Americans (Heckscher 1991). The attack created a major outcry because a good number of American citizens did die in this tragic event. At the time the public wanted the United States to declare war. Woodrow Wilson was in a very difficult spot, as he contemplated what his actions should be he received different sorts of advice from people. Wilson determined that Germany was not beyond the point that they werent still open to have diplomatic discussion about its submarine warfare policy. He believed they would still be open to achieving peace without victory. The solution Wilson wanted for Germany was for them to stop all unrestricted submarine warfare on commerce (Heckscher 1991). Ultimately, after some negotiating Germany and the United States settled on the agreement that no merchant ship unarmed would be subject to attack by the Germans. After this crisis was over Wilson focused his efforts towards getting peace talks started between the

warring nations. Britain was open to the assistance of the United States and Wilson saw this as a good step in the right direction. This was made virtually impossible though because the Allies had no idea what the Central Powers were planning and frankly it seemed as though they would be impossible to deal with when it came to peace talks. It was difficult for Wilson to explain to the people how the efforts were taken to shorten or mediate the conflict. It was hard to deal with Germany because it was clear that they had hidden ambitions and secret fears of peace. (Heckscher 1991). Essentially this caused there to be an end to any peace talks involving aid from the United States for the foreseeable future. Wilson did not make any substantial moves until January 22, 1917. Wilson gave his plan of a peace without victory which was expressed in his Fourteen Points. Basically it described his vision of world order including freedom of the seas, restrictions on armaments, and selfdetermination for nations great and small. Wilsons plan also included a forming of a League of Nations after the war. Its purpose would be for the Nations of the world to work together peacefully and diplomatically so a major conflict like this wouldnt happen again (Foner n.d.). The idea did not sit well with Germany; right away they re-authorized unrestricted submarine warfare. The move resulted in the sinking of several American merchant vessels. Of course Germany knew there would be implications for these violations of their agreement with the United States. It is said that their main reasoning behind it was German strategists gambled that the blockade would strangle Britain economically before the arrival of American troops. (Foner n.d.). The plan did make sense seeing as how the United States was forced to approach each situation slowly and cautiously considering they were still neutral in the conflict. The next major turning point in this situation was when British intelligence intercepted information on Germanys plans to go to war with the United States. This information was

discovered in March of 1917 and the British government made it public. What the information consisted of was a message by German foreign secretary Arthur Zimmerman calling on Mexico to join in a war against the United Sates. The way Germany was tried to persuade them was with the territory they lost on the Mexican American War, which consisted of everything from Texas to California. Another event at the same time as the telegram that was affecting the war was the Russian Revolution. The revolution resulted in a new government that took Russia out of the war and then that gave Germany the ability to focus all of its power West on England and France. (Foner n.d.). Although the telegram and the news that the Allied Powers were down a major power were alarming to Wilson, the final straw for him came April 1, 1917. This day Wilson received news of the sinking of the United States streamer named the Aztec that was sunk by a German submarine. This attacked resulted in the death of twenty eight Americans (www.history.com 2012). This action by Germany resulted in a move by Wilson that would change the result of the war and how America would handle future international affairs. On April 2, 1917 Woodrow Wilson presented Congress with his Declaration of War speech. The world he proclaimed must be made safe for democracy. Its peace must be planted upon the tested foundation of political liberty. (Foner n.d.). Wilson had realized that his view on America as a messenger of Liberty could not be accomplished purely by diplomatic solutions. This was a profound moment for him as president because he was forced to stop resulting to taking a step back and looking at a rational solution to every situation. Wilson seized the moment here and motivated his supporting government to get behind him and do what is right in this situation. The Declaration of War speech was received well by the majority of Congress who, agreed with Wilson that all diplomatic solutions had been perused and that was the only action

that could be taken to help end this war. The war resolution passed the Senate 82-6 and the House 373-50 (Foner n.d.). At this point America was officially at war. Besides the effects the Declaration of War speech had on the outcome of the First World War, this speech set the tone for how international conflict would be handled in the future. Wilsons idea on America as a liberator of the world was taken up by future presidents such as Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman. They followed his footsteps in the pursuit of global peace and understanding. It was considered a somewhat radical view, but through the countries history it has seen that it has always been its role to storm in and save the day. That is probably how the United States has been in some wars it shouldnt have been in. Now it is clear where this sense of heroism came from. It may not have been Wilsons intention, to set this trend for the United Sates, but he did and it has made relations between great world powers considerably better in present time. Woodrow Wilsons Declaration of War speech along with his view on how America could influence the world changed the First World War. Wilson was put in a difficult spot his first term. He did everything he could to keep America out of the conflict in Europe, but with the beginning of war on the seas that was made virtually impossible. Wilson at first felt he could find diplomatic solutions to the birth of unrestricted submarine warfare and he was up to the challenge because he felt it was Americas duty to help spread liberty. Woodrow Wilson believed that the United States had a special mission in the world to spread its practices of liberty and democracy (Judis 2004). Wilson eventually realized that there was no resolution to this war without American military intervention. Also, he knew Germany was ultimately going to seek war so he had to do something. In the end Wilsons Declaration of War speech impacted the way the Great War ended and set the tone for how America handled itself in times of war.