Woodrow Wilson and World War I

What role did Woodrow Wilson have in World War I?

Woodrow Wilson, our 23rd president, became involved in a war that he did not want any part of. Wilson wanted to remain neutral and have peace as in his first term of office. During World War I Wilson’s roles in the war became well known in all countries. Wilson wanted peace more than anything else. In seeking for peace Wilson asked Congress for the U.S. to enter World War I. which may not sound like a peace strategy but Wilson felt it was the only way to stop Germany and gain peace. Wilson wrote his speech for world peace, Fourteen Points, that he was probably most famous for. He attended and played an integral part in The Treaty of Versailles. He was the founder of the League of Nations, which he talked about in his Fourteen Points speech. .

On April 4, 1917 President Wilson asked Congress for the U.S. to enter the war. The U.S. declared war on April 6, 1917.

The German’s unrestricted submarine warfare was the main reason for the U.S. to enter war. Wilson had tremendous support from Americans. The Germans had to be stopped. The attacks came without warning killing many innocent people (Winter and Baggett, 1996). The Germans sank numerous ships including our own. The most famous ship sunk was the Lusitiania. Aboard that ship 128 Americans were killed (http://www.angelfire.com/in3/wilson/wilson.html). The Lusitania was torpedoed without any notice. The Lusitania sunk in 18 minutes killing a total of 1198 people (http://www.poltechnic.org/faculty/gfeldmeth/chart.ww1.html).

On January 8, 1918 Wilson presented to Congress his speech The Fourteen Points. This was a plan for freedom and peace after the war (http://www.angelfire.com/in3/wilson/wilson.html). Without going into details of the entire Fourteen Points, a quote from u-s-history.com list the following:

The first five of the Fourteen Points dealt with issues of broad international concern:

1. Open diplomacy.

2. Freedom of the seas.

3. Removal of economic barriers.

4. Reduction of armaments.

5. Adjustment of colonial claims.

The next eight points referred to specific territorial questions:

6. Conquered territories in Russia.

7. Preservation of Belgian sovereignty.

8. Restoration of French territory.

9. Redrawing of Italian frontiers.

10. Division of Austria-Hungary.

11. Redrawing of Balkan boundaries.

12. Limitations on Turkey

13. Establishment of an independent Poland.

The last point was another broad issue and the particular favorite of Wilson:

14. Association of nations.

The Fourteen Points were distributed all over the world. On November 5, Wilson delivered the peace plan to the German government (http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1234.html). The Germans surrender November 11,1918 and expect a peace treaty under Wilson’s Fourteen Points. The war was now over. Many lives were loss because of the war. There was disease and starvation that killed ten million civilians. In addition, ten million soldiers were killed (http://www.polytechnic.org/faculty/gfeldmeth/chart.ww1.html).

Woodrow Wilson of America, David Lloyd George of Great Britain and Georges Clemenceau of France attended the signing of The Treaty of Versailles, which took place at Versailles Palace located close to Paris. The treaty was the peace settlement after World War I. After months of negotiation the treaty was signed June 28, 1919.

The treaty can be divided into territorial, military, financial and general sections. Land was taken away from Germany and given to France, Belgium, Denmark, Czechoslovakia, and Poland. Germany’s military took a reduction. For example, the German army only had 100,000 men and was not allowed to have tanks. Germany was not allowed an airforce. Germany was allowed only six capital naval ships and no submarines. A certain area west of the Rhineland and east of the River Rhine was a demilitarized zone where German soldiers or weapons were allowed in this area. The general section included three main clauses:

1. Germany