Simone Lawson
Woodrow Wilson's diplomacy was driven by his belief in the United States' moral responsibility to spread democracy and liberty worldwide. This approach, known as moral diplomacy or missionary diplomacy, represented a shift from the previous administration's dollar diplomacy, which prioritized economic interests. Wilson frequently intervened in Latin America, notably in Mexico, Haiti, Cuba, and Panama, with the stated goal of promoting democracy. He also played a key role in the creation of the League of Nations, advocating for a “new diplomacy based on open agreements and the peaceful resolution of international disputes. Despite his ambitious foreign policy agenda, Wilson faced significant challenges, including Senate opposition to the League of Nations and setbacks in his efforts to shape the post-World War I order.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Based on moral principles | Democracy |
| Refused to recognize non-democratic governments | Refused to recognize Victoriano Huerta's government in Mexico |
| Rejected "dollar diplomacy" | Supported private American investment in Latin America |
| Encouraged self-rule | Encouraged independence in the Philippines and Puerto Rico |
| Proposed a "new diplomacy" | Proposed a worldwide peace organization |
| Believed in international cooperation | Proposed the League of Nations |
| Supported disarmament | Proposed general disarmament after World War I |
| Supported fair treatment of revolutionary Russia | Proposed the League of Nations as an instrument for international cooperation |
| Focused on wartime diplomacy and financial considerations | Borrowed billions in funding through the Federal Reserve Bank |
| Promoted labor union cooperation | Negotiated a treaty with Colombia apologizing for the U.S. role in the Panama Revolution |
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What You'll Learn
Wilson's rejection of Dollar Diplomacy
Woodrow Wilson's diplomacy was based on moral principles and democracy, which set him apart from his predecessors, including William Howard Taft. Wilson rejected Dollar Diplomacy, which was the strategy of President Taft, and instead, proposed a foreign policy that emphasised morality.
Dollar Diplomacy was a foreign policy initiative of President William Howard Taft, which aimed to use American economic power to influence and secure markets and opportunities for American businessmen, particularly in Latin America. Taft believed that American investments would stabilise economies, reduce the need for military action, and foster better diplomatic relations. Wilson, however, opposed both Dollar Diplomacy and the Big Stick policy, which emphasised the use of military power as a means of achieving foreign policy goals.
Wilson's moral diplomacy replaced the dollar diplomacy of William Howard Taft, which highlighted the importance of economic support to improve bilateral ties between two nations. Taft's dollar diplomacy was based on economic support, while Wilson's moral diplomacy was based on economic power. Wilson's policy emphasised promoting democracy and moral principles rather than economic interests. He believed that the United States had a responsibility to support democratic nations and promote peace. Wilson's foreign policy involved supporting smaller nations that agreed to abide by 'American' values of political democracy and self-determination. He also implemented tariff reform internationally to support his vision of open, free markets.
Wilson's approach to diplomacy was influenced by his belief in American exceptionalism, the proposition that the United States has a specific world mission to spread liberty and democracy. He frequently intervened in the affairs of other countries, particularly in Latin America, to promote democracy and moral principles. Wilson's diplomacy sowed the seeds of a movement that would produce the United Nations some 25 years later.
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Intervention in Latin America
Woodrow Wilson's foreign policy towards Latin America was based on his idealistic belief in "American exceptionalism" and moral diplomacy. He aimed to reduce intervention in Latin America and improve relations with the nations there. However, in practice, he found it difficult to avoid interventionism, particularly in Mexico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Nicaragua.
Wilson's concept of "moral diplomacy" was based on the idea that the United States had a moral responsibility to spread democracy and liberty worldwide. He believed that American interference in other nations' affairs was justified when it rose to the level of a moral imperative, such as supporting democratic governments and opposing imperialism. This approach was a departure from the previous dollar diplomacy of William Howard Taft, which emphasised economic support to improve bilateral ties. Wilson's policy was influenced by his deep religious faith and messianic philosophical beliefs, promoting a profound sense of moralism.
In Latin America, Wilson's administration faced challenges due to the region's history of revolutions and the presence of European investment, which threatened American hegemony in the Caribbean. In Mexico, Wilson refused to recognise Victoriano Huerta, who had illegally seized power in 1913, despite pressure from American businessmen with mining and other interests in the country. He also used an incident in Tampico, where Mexican officials arrested American sailors, to justify ordering the US Navy to occupy the port city of Veracruz, weakening Huerta's control. Wilson pursued Pancho Villa into Mexico after he provoked a confrontation with the US, but failed to capture him.
Wilson also intervened in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba under the principles of moral diplomacy. In Haiti, he enacted an armed occupation due to the high levels of European investment, particularly from Germany, which threatened American dominance in the region. He supported the Haitian leader of his choice while covertly obtaining financial and administrative control of the island. In the Dominican Republic, he cited political and fiscal unrest as a reason for his intervention in 1916, overseeing elections but ultimately imposing a full military occupation when revolutionary opposition persisted. In Cuba, Wilson sent troops to protect American-owned sugar plantations from attacks by Cuban rebels, and they remained there for four years.
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Support for self-rule and independence
Woodrow Wilson's diplomacy was driven by his belief in the spread of democracy and world peace. He frequently intervened in the affairs of other countries, particularly in Latin America, through his brand of "moral diplomacy". This was a departure from the "dollar diplomacy" of his predecessor, William Howard Taft, which prioritised economic support and investment opportunities for American companies. Wilson's diplomacy was based on economic power and the belief that the United States had a moral responsibility to promote democracy and stability.
In his 1914 address on "The Meaning of Liberty", Wilson proclaimed America's potential to be "the light which will shine unto all generations and guide the feet of mankind to the goal of justice and liberty and peace". He put these ideas into action through his interventions in various countries, including Mexico in 1914, Haiti from 1915–1934, the Dominican Republic in 1916, Cuba in 1917, and Panama in 1918.
Wilson's support for self-rule and independence was a key aspect of his diplomacy. He believed in the eventual self-rule of colonial holdings and the immediate independence of European sections of the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires. In 1916, the Democratic-controlled Congress promised the residents of the Philippine Islands independence, and the next year, Puerto Rico achieved territorial status, and its residents became U.S. citizens. Wilson's diplomacy was also evident in his negotiations with Colombia, where he apologised for the United States' role in the Panama Revolution of 1903–1904.
Wilson's diplomacy was also reflected in his vision for a "new diplomacy" outlined in his "Fourteen Points" speech delivered to Congress on January 8, 1918. He called for open covenants openly arrived at, the end of secret treaties, and the evacuation of all territories occupied during the war. Wilson's commitment to self-rule and independence was further demonstrated by his proposal for a general disarmament after the war, with the Germans and Austrians giving up their armed forces first.
Wilson's diplomacy had a profound and lasting impact on American foreign policy, with his ideas forming the basis of what became known as "Wilsonianism". His efforts towards world peace and the peaceful resolution of international disputes, such as his creation of the League of Nations, sowed the seeds for the establishment of the United Nations decades later.
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Creation of the League of Nations
Woodrow Wilson's diplomacy was driven by his belief in the spread of democracy and world peace. He came to power with little experience in foreign relations but was determined to base his policies on moral principles. In his 1914 address on "The Meaning of Liberty", he alluded to America's potential to be a guiding force for "justice and liberty and peace". He put these ideas into action through his brand of moral diplomacy, which was a departure from the dollar diplomacy of his predecessor, William Howard Taft.
Wilson frequently intervened in the affairs of other countries, particularly in Latin America, saying in 1913: "I am going to teach the South American republics to elect good men". This included interventions in Mexico in 1914, Haiti from 1915–1934, the Dominican Republic in 1916, Cuba in 1917, and Panama in 1918. He also negotiated a treaty with Colombia, in which the United States apologised for its role in the Panama Revolution of 1903–1904.
Wilson's moral diplomacy was based on the concept of American exceptionalism, which holds that the United States has a specific world mission to spread liberty and democracy. He believed that nations, like individuals, should adhere to high ethical and moral standards, and that democracy was the most Christian form of government, suitable for all peoples. This belief in the superiority of democracy led to his refusal to recognise the government of Victoriano Huerta in Mexico, despite most Americans and many foreign powers supporting him.
The creation of the League of Nations was a key initiative of Wilson's diplomacy. He envisioned it as an instrument for the application of Wilsonian democracy on an international scale. The League of Nations was an international organisation founded as a result of the Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I. Its goals included disarmament, preventing war through collective security, settling disputes between countries through negotiation and diplomacy, and improving the global quality of life. Wilson made numerous compromises at the Paris Peace Conference to ensure the creation of the League, which he saw as his main objective. Despite his efforts, the United States never joined the League of Nations, and it was ultimately doomed to fail without active US leadership. However, Wilson's diplomacy laid the groundwork for the creation of the United Nations 25 years later.
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Moral diplomacy
Woodrow Wilson's moral diplomacy departed from the dollar diplomacy of his predecessor, William Howard Taft, which emphasised economic support as a means to improve bilateral ties. Instead, Wilson's diplomacy was based on economic power and the spread of democracy.
Wilson's ideas about America's role in the world were rooted in American exceptionalism, the belief that the United States has a unique mission to spread liberty and democracy. In his 1914 address on "The Meaning of Liberty", Wilson alluded to this idea, suggesting that America could be a "light" to guide the world towards "justice and liberty and peace".
Wilson frequently intervened in the affairs of other countries, particularly in Latin America, to promote democracy. For example, in 1915, he sent American marines to Haiti to restore order amid chronic revolution, and he did the same in the Dominican Republic in 1916. Wilson also maintained troops in Nicaragua throughout his administration and used them to select the country's president. In Mexico, Wilson refused to recognise Victoriano Huerta, who had illegally seized power in 1913, despite pressure from Americans with economic interests in the country and support for Huerta from foreign powers. Wilson's stance encouraged anti-Huerta forces in northern Mexico led by Venustiano Carranza, whom Wilson immediately recognised as Mexico's de facto president when Huerta abandoned power.
Wilson also sought to advance democracy and moral principles through his foreign policy more broadly. In 1916, the Democratic-controlled Congress promised the residents of the Philippine Islands independence, and Puerto Rico achieved territorial status, with its residents becoming US citizens. Wilson also signed 22 bilateral treaties that agreed to cooling-off periods and outside fact-finding commissions as alternatives to war. In his Fourteen Points speech delivered to Congress in 1918, Wilson outlined a "new diplomacy" based on open covenants, freedom of navigation, the removal of economic barriers, and the establishment of equal trade conditions. He also proposed a general disarmament after World War I, with the Germans and Austrians giving up their armed forces first.
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Frequently asked questions
Wilson's main diplomatic goals were to encourage democracy, self-determination, and world peace. He also sought to reduce American interventionism and expansionism, and to conduct foreign policy based on morality rather than self-interest.
Unlike his predecessors, Wilson wanted to reduce the role of the United States in foreign affairs. He believed that the country should only intervene in international affairs when there was a moral imperative to do so.
Wilson wanted to extend American friendship to the nations of Latin America. He also believed that the US had a moral responsibility to deny diplomatic recognition to any Latin American government that was not democratic.
Wilson's Fourteen Points for Peace, which emphasised the right of nations to self-determination, laid the groundwork for the creation of the League of Nations. However, the US never joined the League due to opposition in the Senate.
Wilson's diplomacy helped establish the modern presidency and the ascendance of American leadership on the international stage. His idealistic internationalism, now referred to as "Wilsonianism", has continued to influence American foreign policy and served as a model for "idealists" to emulate.
