Isabella Carter
Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the United States, is credited with coining the term moral diplomacy and implementing it in his foreign policy negotiations. Wilson's moral diplomacy was based on the values of democracy and national self-determination, marking a shift from the previous administration's focus on economic interests and imperialism. He believed that the US had a duty to spread democracy and frequently intervened in the affairs of other countries, particularly in Latin America, to promote democratic values. Wilson's approach to foreign relations was influenced by the concept of American exceptionalism, which positioned the US as a nation with a unique mission to spread liberty and democracy worldwide.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Centering foreign relations around morality | Democracy |
| Replacing economic diplomacy | National self-determination |
| Opposing imperialism | Economic power |
| Encouraging democratic systems | Liberty |
| Supporting nations upholding democratic values | Justice |
| Dismantling the imperial order | Peace |
| Using moral principles | Egalitarianism |
| Spreading democracy | Individualism |
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What You'll Learn
Woodrow Wilson's foreign policy negotiations
During his presidency, Wilson frequently intervened in the affairs of other countries, particularly in Latin America. He opposed imperialism and sought to curb its growth, replacing the previous dollar diplomacy with his version of moral diplomacy. Wilson's interventions included Mexico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Panama. In Mexico, he refused to recognize the authoritarian rule of General Victoriano Huerta, supporting Venustiano Carranza instead. He also sent troops to Mexico in pursuit of Pancho Villa, who had provoked a confrontation with the United States. In Haiti, Wilson used American troops to force the Haitian legislature to choose his selected candidate as president.
Wilson's foreign policy was also shaped by his desire to maintain American neutrality during World War I. Initially succeeding in this endeavour, he was re-elected in 1916 with the slogan "He Kept Us Out of War". However, tensions with Germany, including the sinking of American ships and the Zimmermann telegram, eventually led to a declaration of war in April 1917.
After World War I, Wilson played a significant role in the Paris peace conference in 1919, where he proposed his idea of a League of Nations. Despite facing opposition, he managed to get his League of Nations approved, although the Treaty of Versailles imposed harsh terms on Germany. Back home, Wilson faced resistance from the Senate, which failed to ratify the treaty due to concerns about losing sovereignty.
Wilson's foreign policy negotiations were characterized by his commitment to moral diplomacy, interventionism, and the spread of democracy. His actions had a lasting impact on the United States' global role and influence, shaping the country's approach to international relations and its position as a global leader.
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American exceptionalism
The concept of American exceptionalism holds that the United States is distinct from other nations, with a specific mission to spread liberty and democracy worldwide. This idea has been a fundamental aspect of the country's foreign policy and self-perception, influencing both domestic politics and international relations. American exceptionalism is deeply rooted in the nation's history and has been a recurring theme in presidential rhetoric, portraying the country as a moral leader with a unique destiny.
The origins of American exceptionalism can be traced back to the country's revolutionary past and the belief in republicanism, which asserts that sovereignty belongs to the people rather than a hereditary ruling class. The absence of feudal traditions, such as established churches and a hereditary nobility, contributed to a sense of exceptionalism. This belief system, combined with religious freedom, created a unique ideological framework that set the United States apart from other nations with state religions.
The historian Thomas Kidd argues that Americans across the theological spectrum came to believe that "God was raising America for some particular purpose," leading to a blend of Christian and republican ideology. This idea of divine providence, notably expressed by Puritan leader John Winthrop as a "City upon a Hill," has persisted in the national identity and political discourse.
In the 20th century, President Woodrow Wilson's concept of moral diplomacy exemplified American exceptionalism in foreign policy. Wilson sought to curb imperialism and spread democracy, intervening in the affairs of Latin American countries and promoting democratic values over imperialist interests. This approach marked a shift from isolationism to internationalism, reflecting the belief that the United States had a moral duty to lead and shape global affairs.
In more recent times, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, ushered in a new era of American foreign policy deeply rooted in American exceptionalism. The War on Terror revived the binary narrative of "good versus evil," with the United States positioning itself as a moral crusader against a malevolent force. This framework, often underpinned by religious assumptions, has influenced military interventions and unilateral strategies, impacting the country's reputation and role in the global order.
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Imperialism
Wilson's moral diplomacy represented a shift in foreign policy, prioritising moral values over imperialist interests. He opposed imperialism and sought to curb its growth, particularly in Latin America. Wilson frequently intervened in the affairs of Latin American countries, including Mexico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Panama. He believed in the importance of "just government" based on the "consent of the governed" and sought to spread democratic values and systems, even using aggressive tactics in some cases.
In Mexico, for example, Wilson refused to recognise Victoriano Huerta, who had illegally seized power, despite pressure from Americans with economic interests in the country. He also sent troops to Haiti and the Dominican Republic to restore order during revolutions, but these interventions failed to establish democratic states as intended. Additionally, Wilson continued old-fashioned imperialist practices, such as purchasing the Virgin Islands from Denmark for $25 million.
While Wilson's 14-point plan for spreading democracy did not immediately influence US foreign policy, it laid the groundwork for the United States' eventual participation in international political conglomerates like the United Nations. Wilson's moral diplomacy, therefore, had a lasting impact on US foreign relations, shaping its approach to international affairs and its belief in its role as a global actor promoting democracy and morality.
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Latin America
Woodrow Wilson's foreign policy as President of the United States was characterised by his concept of "moral diplomacy". This policy was driven by the belief that the United States had a moral mandate to spread democracy and liberty across the world, with a particular focus on Latin America.
In Latin America, Wilson frequently intervened in the internal affairs of various countries, including Mexico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Panama, and Cuba. He justified these interventions under the guise of moral diplomacy, claiming that he wanted to teach the South American republics to elect good men and ensure peace and freedom for their inhabitants. However, Wilson's actions were also influenced by the desire to protect American economic and political interests in the region.
In Mexico, for example, Wilson refused to recognise Victoriano Huerta, who had illegally seized power, despite pressure from Americans with economic interests in the country. He also unilaterally sent US troops into Mexico in pursuit of Pancho Villa, who had provoked a confrontation with the US, which almost led to war. In Haiti, Wilson enacted an armed occupation, supporting the Haitian leader of his choice while covertly obtaining financial and administrative control of the island. Similarly, in the Dominican Republic, he oversaw elections but then occupied the country militarily when revolutionary opposition remained.
Wilson's moral diplomacy in Latin America was a continuation of American imperialism in the region. While it was purported to spread democracy and freedom, it ultimately served to protect American hegemony and economic interests. Wilson's actions in Latin America illustrate the concept of American Exceptionalism, the belief that the United States is morally superior and has a mandate to lead the world.
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American intervention
Woodrow Wilson's moral diplomacy replaced the dollar diplomacy of former US President William Howard Taft, which highlighted the importance of economic support to improve bilateral ties between two nations. Wilson's idea of moral diplomacy was based on economic power and the values of democracy and national self-determination. He believed that the US had a duty to spread democracy and used aggressive moral diplomacy to ensure this objective.
In his 1913 statement, Wilson said, "I am going to teach the South American republics to elect good men". He frequently intervened in the affairs of other countries, specifically Latin America, and his interventions included Mexico in 1914, Haiti from 1915–1934, the Dominican Republic in 1916, Cuba in 1917, and Panama in 1918. The US maintained troops in Nicaragua throughout the Wilson administration and used them to select the president of Nicaragua. In Haiti, American troops, under the command of the federal government, forced the Haitian legislature to choose the candidate Wilson selected as Haitian President.
Wilson's moral diplomacy was a shift in foreign policy from being hinged upon imperialist interests to being based on moral values. Under this diplomacy, the US offered support to nations that agreed to uphold democratic values. Wilson's insistence that Latin American governments be democratic undermined the promise of self-determination. In 1915, Wilson responded to the chronic revolution in Haiti by sending in American marines to restore order, and he did the same in the Dominican Republic in 1916. The military occupations that followed failed to create the democratic states that were their stated objective.
Wilson's 14 points, outlined in his "Fourteen Points" speech delivered to Congress on January 8, 1918, called for a "new diplomacy" consisting of "open covenants openly arrived at." He wanted to dismantle the imperial order by opening up colonial holdings to eventual self-rule and all European sections of the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires to immediate independence. Wilson's policies operated within his framework of 'moral diplomacy', and his ideals eventually came to fruition, cementing the US as a global actor in international affairs, with a belief in American morality at its core.
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Frequently asked questions
The term "moral diplomacy" is commonly associated with and was coined by US President Woodrow Wilson.
Woodrow Wilson's idea of moral diplomacy was based on the values of democracy and national self-determination. He believed that the US had a duty to spread democracy and sought to offer support to nations that agreed to uphold these democratic values.
Woodrow Wilson's moral diplomacy aimed to replace imperialism with democracy and curb the growth of economic power as a driving force in international relations.
Woodrow Wilson's moral diplomacy affected his foreign policy negotiations, shifting the focus from isolationism to internationalism. His 14 points, outlined in his "Fourteen Points" speech, laid the groundwork for democratic nations to work together towards common goals.
While Woodrow Wilson's moral diplomacy did not immediately translate into US foreign policy, his ideals eventually came to fruition. The US joined the United Nations following World War II, solidifying its position as a global actor in international affairs with a belief in American morality at its core.
