Malcolm Rivera
Woodrow Wilson's presidency saw a shift in the role of the president, with Wilson becoming a manager of the nation's interests at home and abroad, independent of the party and Congress. Wilson's expansion of presidential diplomacy powers was driven by his belief in moral diplomacy, which held that the US should intervene in foreign conflicts to fortify morality and human rights. This was a departure from the previous administration's aggressive nationalist foreign policy, which sought to expand the American empire. Wilson's most notable use of this approach was in Mexico, where he refused to recognise the authoritarian government of General Victoriano Huerta, instead supporting anti-Huerta forces. Wilson's Fourteen Points speech in 1918 outlined his vision for a new diplomacy, including the prevention of future wars through a league of nations, open covenants, and self-determination. Wilson's principles of self-determination, democratic government, and collective security continue to guide European politics today.
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What You'll Learn
Moral diplomacy in Latin America
Woodrow Wilson's foreign policy was based on the principles of moral diplomacy, which held that the United States had a moral responsibility to spread democracy and liberty worldwide. This was a departure from former President William Howard Taft's dollar diplomacy, which focused on economic support to improve bilateral ties. Wilson's moral diplomacy was based on economic power and American exceptionalism, the belief that the United States has a unique mission and ideology based on liberty, egalitarianism, and individualism.
In Latin America, Wilson's moral diplomacy was particularly influential. He believed that the United States had a duty to intervene in Latin American nations' internal politics to spread democracy and ensure that their governments were democratic. This was an expansion of President James Monroe's 1823 Monroe Doctrine. Wilson frequently intervened in Latin American countries, including Mexico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Panama.
In Mexico, Wilson refused to recognize the government of General Victoriano Huerta, who had seized power through a counterrevolution in 1913. Wilson described Huerta's government as a "government of butchers" and supported anti-Huerta forces led by Venustiano Carranza. In 1914, a diplomatic incident involving the arrest of American sailors in Tampico led Wilson to order the US Navy to occupy the port city of Veracruz, weakening Huerta's control and leading to his abandonment of power. Wilson immediately recognized Carranza as the de facto president of Mexico. However, Wilson's unilateral actions in Mexico, such as sending US troops to pursue Pancho Villa without Carranza's permission, provoked confrontations and challenged the promise of self-determination.
In Haiti, Wilson enacted an armed occupation from 1915 to 1934 due to the high levels of European investment, which threatened American hegemony in the Caribbean. He supported a Haitian leader of his choice while covertly obtaining financial and administrative control. Similarly, in the Dominican Republic, Wilson intervened in 1916, citing political and fiscal unrest, and oversaw elections, but the failure to quell revolutionary opposition led to a full military occupation from 1916 to 1924. Wilson's actions in Cuba were also criticized as being driven by the protection of American economic interests, particularly sugar plantations monopolized by US companies.
Wilson's moral diplomacy in Latin America has been criticized for protecting American economic and political hegemony in the region, despite his stated goals of peace and freedom. His diplomacy was influenced by his personal racist views and reflected American exceptionalism. Nonetheless, Wilson's vision of collective security and self-determination through US leadership in international organizations, such as the League of Nations, had a lasting impact on European politics and American diplomatic history.
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The Fourteen Points
On January 8, 1918, President Woodrow Wilson addressed a joint session of the United States Congress, presenting a 14-point program for world peace. These Fourteen Points were designed as guidelines for the rebuilding of the postwar world and served as the basis for peace negotiations to end World War I. They were also created to challenge Lenin's claims to the moral high ground and provide an ideological alternative to his Communist regime.
- Open covenants of peace, openly arrived at: Wilson proposed that there should be no private international understandings of any kind, and that diplomacy should be conducted frankly and in public view. This was intended to change the usual method of secret diplomacy practised in Europe.
- Freedom of navigation upon the seas: Wilson advocated for absolute freedom of navigation on the seas, outside of territorial waters, in both peacetime and wartime. However, he allowed for exceptions in cases of international action for the enforcement of international covenants.
- Removal of economic barriers and establishment of equal trade conditions: Wilson called for the removal of economic barriers between nations and the promotion of equal trade conditions among those consenting to peace.
- Reduction of armaments: Wilson proposed a reduction in armaments as a means to ensure world peace.
- Adjustment of colonial claims: Wilson suggested adjustments to colonial claims that would balance the interests of both native peoples and colonists. This included the idea of national self-determination, which would be achieved through the dismantling of European empires and the creation of new states.
- Free trade: Wilson advocated for the establishment of free trade agreements between nations.
- Specific territorial issues: Eight of the Fourteen Points addressed territorial issues among the combatant nations. These included calls for the abolition of secret treaties and the adjustment of colonial claims based on self-determination.
- A world organization for collective security: Wilson proposed the creation of an international organization that would guarantee the political independence and territorial integrity of all member countries, regardless of size. This organization, later known as the League of Nations, was included in the Treaty of Versailles.
While the Fourteen Points were well-received in the United States and by Allied nations, they faced resistance in the Senate due to concerns about sacrificing national sovereignty. Ultimately, the Treaty of Versailles did not fully realize Wilson's idealistic vision, and World War II soon followed. Nonetheless, the Fourteen Points influenced the later world order, informing decolonization movements and setting a new standard for national identity.
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Self-determination and democracy
Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the United States, is regarded as one of the country's most important political figures. Wilson's diplomacy, known as "Wilsonianism", continues to shape debates and ideas about America's role as a global leader and the right of national self-determination.
Wilson's "moral diplomacy" was a significant shift from the aggressive nationalist foreign policy of his predecessors, Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft, who sought to expand the American Empire. Wilson's approach was based on the principle of "self-determination", the moral right of people to choose their form of government and leaders through democratic elections. This policy had a notable impact on US relations with Mexico. When Mexican President Victoriano Huerta seized power in 1913, Wilson refused to recognise his presidency, citing the forced nature of his ascension. Wilson's refusal to negotiate his moral policy increased tensions between the two countries. However, it also led to the weakening of Huerta's control, ultimately resulting in his abandonment of power.
Wilson's belief in self-determination and democracy extended beyond Mexico. In Puerto Rico, he granted freedom, peace, and democracy through the Jones-Shafroth Act. However, this act also gave the US President and Congress veto power over the Puerto Rican legislature, demonstrating unilateral American control over the island's affairs. Wilson also promised independence to the Philippines and made Puerto Ricans American citizens, further showcasing his commitment to self-determination and democracy.
On the international stage, Wilson's Fourteen Points program for peace, presented to Congress in 1918, emphasised open covenants of peace, free trade, and the creation of the League of Nations, an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to addressing disputes through diplomacy rather than military force. Wilson believed that the League would transform international relations and bring about a new era of world peace. His vision of self-determination and democracy was not limited to specific nations but extended to the global arena, shaping his approach to international relations and the role of the US as a global leader.
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Neutrality and peace
Woodrow Wilson's presidency was marked by a significant shift in American foreign policy, with a focus on neutrality and peace. Despite facing the outbreak of World War I in Europe, Wilson initially maintained a neutral stance, appealing to Americans to steer clear of the conflict. He attributed the war to militant nationalism and ethnic hatred in Central and Eastern Europe. However, as the war progressed and Belgium and Northern France were occupied, Wilson's isolationist policies became increasingly challenging to sustain.
In 1916, Wilson was narrowly re-elected with the slogan "He kept us out of war." However, he soon began advocating for a ""peace without victory," recognising that a forced peace would breed resentment and lead to future conflicts. Wilson's vision for peace was outlined in his ""Fourteen Points" speech to Congress in January 1918. This speech marked a significant departure from traditional diplomacy, emphasising open covenants of peace, absolute freedom of navigation, and the removal of economic barriers.
Wilson's concept of "moral diplomacy" was a key aspect of his approach to neutrality and peace. He believed that America's foreign policy should be guided by morality, democracy, and self-determination rather than solely by economic interests. This stance was particularly evident in Latin America, where Wilson refused to recognise undemocratic governments, such as the regime of Mexican President Victoriano Huerta. By withholding diplomatic recognition, Wilson sought to promote democracy and self-determination in the region.
Additionally, Wilson proposed the creation of a League of Nations, a novel international organisation that would foster collective security and resolve disputes among its members. This proposal reflected his desire for a new era of world peace, free from the imperialist policies of the past. While Wilson's idealism faced scepticism from some Allied leaders, his vision laid the groundwork for the conduct of international relations in the twentieth century.
Wilson's commitment to neutrality and peace was also reflected in his domestic policies. He authorised a massive shipbuilding program for the Navy and passed controversial Alien and Sedition laws to prepare for potential involvement in the war while maintaining his dedication to peace. Despite ultimately entering World War I in April 1917, Wilson's diplomacy reshaped America's role in the world, elevating it to the forefront of world powers and influencing how future presidents approached foreign affairs.
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Collective security and international law
Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president of the United States, is considered one of the country's most important political figures. Wilson's foreign policy, known as "Wilsonianism", had a significant impact on the expansion of presidential diplomacy powers and the country's role in international affairs.
One of the key aspects of Wilson's approach to diplomacy was his commitment to "moral diplomacy". This represented a shift away from the strictly nationalist foreign policies of previous administrations, which sought to expand the American Empire. Wilson's "moral diplomacy" was based on the principle of "self-determination", which upheld the moral right of people to choose their form of government and leaders through democratic elections. This policy had a significant impact on the United States' relations with Mexico. When Mexican President Victoriano Huerta came to power by force in 1913, Wilson refused to recognise his presidency and would not negotiate on his moral policy, leading to increased tensions between the two countries. Wilson also used the American military to occupy the Mexican port city of Veracruz, which ultimately damaged the long-term relationship between the United States and Mexico.
Another significant aspect of Wilson's expansion of presidential diplomacy powers was his role in the establishment of the League of Nations. In 1918, Wilson travelled to France to head the American peace delegation, becoming the first sitting American president to visit Europe. He presented his "Fourteen Points" program for peace, which included calls for an end to secret agreements, the promotion of free trade, and the creation of an intergovernmental organisation, the League of Nations, that would address international issues through diplomacy rather than military force. Wilson believed that this League would transform international relations and bring about a new era of world peace.
In addition to his international endeavours, Wilson also expanded the role of the federal government in managing the domestic economy. He introduced progressive reforms and granted freedom, peace, and democracy to Puerto Rico, although this also included unilateral American power over the island's affairs. Wilson's administration also had negative consequences, as it expanded the segregation of federal offices and the civil service.
Overall, Wilson's tenure as president marked a significant expansion of presidential diplomacy powers and established the United States as a global leader, with his legacy continuing to influence debates about the country's role in the world.
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Frequently asked questions
Wilson's foreign policy, known as "Wilsonianism", was based on the concept of moral diplomacy, which prioritised morality, democracy, and self-determination over economic interests. This was a departure from the strictly nationalist foreign policies of his predecessors, Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft, who sought to expand the American empire.
Wilson initially maintained American neutrality and was re-elected in 1916 on an anti-war platform. However, he eventually led America into the war in April 1917, relying on a largely Black and female labour force to harness the nation's industrial power.
The "Fourteen Points" speech, delivered to Congress on January 8, 1918, outlined Wilson's vision for a new diplomacy, including open covenants, freedom of the seas, free trade, and the creation of the League of Nations to prevent future wars.
Wilson's ideas on self-determination, democratic government, collective security, and international law continue to guide European politics and American diplomatic history. His vision for collective security through US leadership in international organisations, like the League of Nations, appealed to the public and solidified America's status as a global leader.
