Woodrow Wilson and WWI Essays

Submitted By keithweaver
Words: 621
Pages: 3

Woodrow Wilson was a man who loved peace. He tried his very best to stay out of the First World War. Wilson was not interested in foreign affairs regarding war and did not want to get involved unless it affected domestic concerns. In fact in his 1912 campaign he stated, “It would be the irony of fate if my administration had to deal chiefly with foreign affairs.” But it was so and during his two terms he was faced with crisis after crisis regarding foreign affairs, as well as entering WWI. On June 28, 1914 the Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by a Bosnian. Only weeks later the Central Powers were at war with the Allied Powers. During this time Wilson immediately proclaimed neutrality and asked Americans to remain, “impartial in thought as well as in action.” Wilson felt that this war was one that United States had nothing to do with. The Neutrality continued even with Great Britain blocking trading ports and limiting goods Americans could sell to Germany. It also continued for years during the U-Boat Threat when Germans were targeting and torpedoing passenger vessels. In 1916 Wilson finally broke off relations with Germany after the German ambassador informed Lansing that Germany’s U-boats would sink on sight all ships regardless of it being passenger, cargo, neutral, or armed. Wilson’s love for peace was tested and eventually he could not stand Neutral any more. The German’s had pushed too far and there had been too many innocent American casualties. On April 2, 1917 Wilson called congress into a special session and asked for a declaration of war, which was officially declared on April 6, 1917. The First reason was directed to the German U-boats. They did not give passenger ships any warning and it had been previously agreed that “due warning” were to be given before firing on any ships. The passengers did not resist and did not even get a fair chance to escape on lifeboats. He states that,” Vessels of every kind…h ave been ruthlessly sent to the bottom without warning and without thought of help or mercy for those on board.” There had been lives taken of non-combat trained men, women and children. Even in dark periods of modern history these types of people have been deemed innocent. Wilson felt that Neutrality was no longer “ feasible or desirable where the peace of the world is involved and the freedom of its peoples.” The second reason for