Since the foundation of the United States, there were different concepts and principles in American Foreign Policy which changed throughout the centuries. While these concepts stayed relatively the same until the beginning of the 20th century, they changed rapidly during the presidency of the democrat Woodrow Wilson. He was the 28th President of the United States from 1913 to 1921 and contributed to that change in a decisive way. This paper shows which concepts and principles conducted Wilson and influenced his Foreign Policy.
To work out these concepts and principles I concentrate on two of Wilson’s speeches after having presented the basic concepts that were of importance until 1913. Both speeches are outstanding declarations of his presidency. The War Message from April 1917 describes the end of American neutrality towards the European powers. It contains key sentences like “the world must be made safe for democracy” which were often cited later on. The second key document I examine is the Fourteen Points Speech of January 1918, which became Wilson’s most famous speech. It constitutes the first statement about war aims of the Allies and therefore gives further information about Wilson’s principles. This is followed by a presentation of the principles I found in these documents completed by some aspects of the scholarly discourse as well as arguments of Wilson’s opponents.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Previous Principles in American Foreign Policy
3. Two Key Documents of Wilson’s Foreign Policy
3.1. Wilson’s War Message 1917
3.2. The Fourteen Points Speech 1918
4. Concepts and Principles of Wilson’s Foreign Policy
5. Arguments of Wilson’s opponents
6. Conclusion
7. Works Cited
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the transformation of American foreign policy during the presidency of Woodrow Wilson, specifically focusing on how his idealistic concepts challenged traditional principles like isolationism and unilateralism. The primary research goal is to identify and analyze the core concepts and principles that guided Wilson's diplomatic strategy through his two most influential documents, the War Message of 1917 and the Fourteen Points Speech of 1918.
- Evolution of U.S. foreign policy principles
- Analysis of Wilson’s War Message and Fourteen Points
- Concepts of American Exceptionalism and Manifest Destiny
- The theoretical shift to multilateralism and collective security
- Critical perspectives from Wilson's contemporaries
Excerpt from the Book
3.1. Wilson’s War Message 1917
Wilson’s hope to stay neutral and to mediate between the Entente and the Central Powers vanished in 1917. On April 2, 1917 he asked the Congress to declare war. The War Message contained some key sentences often cited by politicians and scholars later on.
After having summarized the decisive events concerning Germany’s behavior and hegemony on the sea which led to his decision for war, Wilson emphasized in the second paragraph that he could not understand this behavior of a country which normally acts like human beings. He connected the German submarine warfare to humanity: “Property can be paid for; the lives of peaceful and innocent people cannot be. … [It] is a warfare against mankind. It is a war against all nations.” In these words the concepts of isolationism or unilateralism cannot be found any more. It was not the United States that were to the fore but all nations all over the world. It sounds as if Wilson wanted to take responsibility for all peoples as Kissinger described: “National interests were irrelevant; … the war had a moral foundation, whose primary objective was a new and more just international order.” To achieve such a new order, first of all Germany had to be defeated.
In the third paragraph Wilson emphasized that the intervention was not revenge for the lost ships and for the people who died because of the submarine war. For him it was important that human rights were respected and defended: “Our motive will be … the vindication of right, of human right of which we are only a single champion.” With these words he referred to American Exceptionalism. The United States should not be an example, the “City upon a Hill”, any more. This passive example was not enough to achieve a change in the world order; therefore the United States had to intervene.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the shift in U.S. foreign policy during Woodrow Wilson’s presidency and outlines the methodological focus on his two landmark speeches.
2. Previous Principles in American Foreign Policy: The author surveys the historical context of U.S. foreign affairs, defining key ideological concepts like American Exceptionalism, Manifest Destiny, isolationism, and unilateralism.
3. Two Key Documents of Wilson’s Foreign Policy: This section provides a detailed analysis of the 1917 War Message and the 1918 Fourteen Points, highlighting Wilson's transition toward collective security and moral leadership.
4. Concepts and Principles of Wilson’s Foreign Policy: The chapter categorizes Wilson’s thought processes into the frameworks of multilateralism, idealism, and realism, ultimately discussing the term "Wilsonianism."
5. Arguments of Wilson’s opponents: This chapter reviews contemporary criticisms of Wilson, specifically focusing on the perceived impracticality and idealistic nature of his foreign policy vision.
6. Conclusion: The conclusion summarizes Wilson's legacy, acknowledging the failure of his immediate programs while emphasizing their enduring impact on subsequent American foreign-policy thinking.
7. Works Cited: A compilation of the primary sources and scholarly literature used throughout the research.
Keywords
Woodrow Wilson, Foreign Policy, Fourteen Points, War Message, American Exceptionalism, Multilateralism, Isolationism, Collective Security, Wilsonianism, Idealism, Realism, World War I, Diplomacy, League of Nations, Manifest Destiny
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research paper?
The paper explores the principles and concepts that defined U.S. foreign policy during the presidency of Woodrow Wilson, specifically investigating his departure from traditional isolationist stances.
Which historical documents are analyzed in detail?
The study focuses on Wilson's 1917 War Message to Congress and his 1918 Fourteen Points speech, as these define the core of his foreign policy objectives.
What is the main goal of the research?
The objective is to explain how Wilson's moral and political vision transformed the U.S. approach to global relations and to analyze the specific components of his "Wilsonianism."
What scientific methods were used in the analysis?
The author employs a historical-analytical approach, reviewing primary speeches alongside a diverse range of scholarly discourse and academic literature to synthesize Wilson's strategic framework.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body covers historical principles before 1913, detailed breakdowns of Wilson’s key speeches, an interpretation of his political ideology, and an overview of arguments raised by his opponents.
Which keywords best describe this academic work?
The work is best characterized by terms such as Wilsonianism, collective security, American Exceptionalism, multilateralism, and U.S. foreign policy.
Why did Wilson advocate for the League of Nations?
Wilson viewed the League of Nations as the ultimate mechanism for collective security, intended to ensure global peace and prevent the recurrence of international conflicts through regular communication between nations.
How do critics view Wilson's foreign policy approach?
Opponents, such as those cited in the paper, viewed Wilson’s policies as overly theoretical, idealistic, and impractical, noting that they often failed to account for complex social and cultural realities abroad.
Did Wilson succeed in his immediate political goals?
While his immediate goal of ratifying the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations failed in the U.S. Senate, his principles profoundly shaped the bedrock of American foreign policy for subsequent generations.
- Quote paper
- Dorothee Bührer (Author), 2006, The foreign policy of Woodrow Wilson, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/88205
