Omar Bennett
Woodrow Wilson's moral diplomacy was a new type of statesmanship that centred US foreign relations around the concept of morality—specifically the values of democracy and national self-determination—rather than pure economic interest. Wilson's ethical and religious beliefs profoundly influenced his foreign policy as president. 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 American exceptionalism led to the idea that the United States had a moral mandate for world leadership and a duty to spread democracy. Wilson's 14 points, which revolved around the mission of spreading democracy, laid the groundwork for democratic nations to later create international political conglomerates in order to work towards common goals.
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What You'll Learn
Democracy as a moral responsibility
Woodrow Wilson's concept of "moral diplomacy" is based on the belief that the United States has a moral responsibility to spread democracy and promote peace worldwide. This idea, rooted in American exceptionalism, guided Wilson's foreign policy and interventions, particularly in Latin America.
Wilson's moral diplomacy represented a shift from the imperialist policies of his predecessors. He argued that nations should adhere to high ethical and moral standards, with democracy as the most Christian form of government, suitable for all peoples. This belief in the superiority of democracy led to his policy of "missionary diplomacy," where the US supported democratic governments and economically disadvantaged non-democratic countries, especially in Latin America. Wilson saw it as his duty to "teach" these countries to elect "good men," reflecting his conviction that the US knew better than the leaders of those nations.
The core principle of Wilson's moral diplomacy was self-determination, the right of people to choose their government and leaders through democratic elections. He envisioned a world where nations, free from imperialist control, could determine their destiny. This idealism, however, clashed with the reality of US interventions, which often fell short of creating the desired democratic states and instead fostered hostility, particularly in countries like Mexico, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.
Despite its shortcomings, Wilson's moral diplomacy had a lasting impact on US foreign policy. It laid the groundwork for the US to become a global actor, championing democracy and human rights on the world stage. Wilson's vision of an international organization of nations working together, as seen in his support for the League of Nations, contributed to the development of international political conglomerates that continue to shape global affairs.
In conclusion, Woodrow Wilson's moral diplomacy represents democracy as a moral responsibility, where the spread of democratic values and self-determination is seen as essential for global peace and stability. While the implementation of this ideology faced challenges, it set a precedent for the United States' role in international relations and its commitment to promoting democracy worldwide.
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Support for democratic nations
Woodrow Wilson's moral diplomacy was a form of diplomacy that centred US foreign relations around the concept of morality, specifically the values of democracy and national self-determination. Wilson's moral diplomacy was a shift from his predecessors' imperialist policies, which sought to expand the American empire and its interests abroad. Instead, Wilson's policies were driven by the belief that the US had a moral responsibility to spread democracy and liberty, and that democracy was the most Christian form of government, suitable for all peoples.
Wilson's moral diplomacy was particularly focused on supporting democratic nations in Latin America. He believed that the US had a duty to intervene in Latin American countries to promote democracy and that "just government" must rest "upon the consent of the governed". This belief led to interventions in several Latin American countries, including Mexico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Panama. Wilson also sought to economically injure non-democratic countries, seeing them as possible threats to the US.
In his "Fourteen Points" speech delivered to Congress in 1918, Wilson outlined his vision for a new diplomacy that was based on moral principles and the spread of democracy. He called for open covenants of peace, freedom of navigation upon the seas, the removal of economic barriers, and the reduction of national armaments. Wilson also proposed a "concert of power", an international organization where nations could work together to promote peace and democracy.
Wilson's moral diplomacy was influenced by his ethical and religious beliefs, as well as the concept of American exceptionalism, which holds that the United States has a unique mission to spread liberty and democracy worldwide. He saw moral diplomacy as a way to increase the number of democratic nations and promote peace and stability.
While Wilson's ideas about moral diplomacy were idealistic, they faced criticism and had limited success in practice. His interventions in Latin America, for example, created permanent hostility between the US and Latin American countries, and his attempts to create democratic states through military occupations failed. Despite this, Wilson's moral diplomacy laid the groundwork for democratic nations to work together internationally and cemented the US as a global actor in international affairs.
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Economic injury to non-democratic nations
Woodrow Wilson's "moral diplomacy" was a new type of diplomacy that centred US foreign relations around the concept of morality, specifically the values of democracy and national self-determination. Wilson's ethical and religious beliefs profoundly influenced his foreign policy as president. He believed that nations, like individuals, should adhere to high ethical and moral standards. Democracy, he thought, was the most Christian form of government, suitable for all peoples.
Wilson's moral diplomacy was a shift from his predecessors' imperialist policies, which sought to extend American power and dominion. Instead, Wilson's diplomacy was intended to empower developing nations to become self-sustaining and democratic. This was particularly focused on Latin America, where Wilson sought to intervene in European imperialist efforts. He believed that the US had a duty to spread democracy and used aggressive moral diplomacy to ensure this objective.
Wilson's interventions in Latin America included Mexico in 1914, Haiti from 1915-1934, the Dominican Republic in 1916, Cuba in 1917, and Panama in 1918. In Haiti, for example, American troops forced the Haitian legislature to choose Wilson's selected candidate as Haitian President. Similarly, in the Dominican Republic, Wilson sent in American marines to restore order following a revolution in 1915. These military occupations failed to create the democratic states that were their stated objective. Wilson's insistence on democratic governments in Latin America undermined the promise of self-determination for these nations.
Overall, Wilson's moral diplomacy sought to economically injure non-democratic nations by withholding support and recognition. This was done to promote democracy and peace, but it often led to permanent hostility between the US and Latin America, particularly in countries like Mexico, where Wilson's interventions were most virulent. Despite Wilson's admirable objectives, his diplomacy was ultimately a failure, creating a legacy of ill will and damaging relations with Latin America.
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Self-determination
Woodrow Wilson's "moral diplomacy" was a foreign policy approach that aimed to promote American values and principles, particularly democracy and self-determination, in international relations. Wilson and Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan came into office with little experience in foreign relations but were determined to base their policy on moral principles rather than selfish materialism. They were convinced that democracy was gaining strength worldwide and were eager to encourage the process.
The core of moral diplomacy was the principle of self-determination, or "the moral right of people to choose their form of government and leaders by democratic elections". Wilson considered moral diplomacy an alternative to his predecessors' imperialist policies, which sought to extend American power. Instead, moral diplomacy empowered developing nations to become self-sustaining and democratic. This approach to foreign policy centred all US foreign relations around the concept of morality, specifically the values of democracy and national self-determination, rather than pure economic interest.
In his 1914 address on "The Meaning of Liberty", Wilson alluded to 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 later put these ideas into action through moral diplomacy, believing that the US had a duty to spread democracy and promote peace throughout the world. This included supporting smaller nations that agreed to abide by "American" values of political democracy and self-determination, and applying economic and military pressure to nations that rejected such values.
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". These interventions included Mexico in 1914, Haiti from 1915–1934, the Dominican Republic in 1916, Cuba in 1917, and Panama in 1918. In the case of Haiti, American troops forced the Haitian legislature to choose Wilson's selected candidate as Haitian President. Wilson also responded to chronic revolution in Haiti and the Dominican Republic by sending in American marines to restore order, though these military occupations failed to create the democratic states that were their stated objective.
Despite Wilson's attempts to spread democracy and self-determination, critics viewed his project of moral diplomacy as the peak of American Exceptionalism. Latin American states were hopeful for the prospect of being free to conduct their affairs without American interference, but Wilson's insistence that their governments be democratic undermined the promise of self-determination.
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Alternative to imperialism
Woodrow Wilson's moral diplomacy represented a shift from the imperialist policies of his predecessors, Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft. Wilson's approach centred on moral values and democracy rather than economic interests, aiming to empower developing nations to become self-sustaining and democratic. This was in contrast to the previous administration's pursuit of American Empire expansion and advocacy for its interests abroad.
Wilson's moral diplomacy was influenced by his ethical and religious beliefs, which held that nations should adhere to high ethical and moral standards. He believed that democracy was the most Christian form of government, suitable for all peoples. This belief in American exceptionalism, the idea that the United States has a specific world mission to spread liberty and democracy, guided his foreign policy.
In practice, Wilson frequently intervened in the affairs of Latin American countries, including Mexico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Panama. He refused to recognise undemocratic governments and used aggressive moral diplomacy to spread democracy, sometimes resulting in permanent hostility between the US and Latin America. For example, in Mexico, Wilson refused to recognise the authoritarian rule of General Victoriano Huerta, encouraging anti-Huerta forces in the country. He also ordered the US Navy to occupy the port city of Veracruz after a minor incident involving American sailors, which ultimately led to Huerta's downfall.
Wilson's famous "Fourteen Points" speech, delivered to Congress in 1918, outlined his vision for a new diplomacy that would dismantle the imperial order. He called for open covenants, territorial evacuations, and the independence of colonial holdings and European sections of the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires. Wilson's idealism, however, did not always translate into successful foreign policy, and his interventions were sometimes seen as failures that created ill will.
Despite these criticisms and setbacks, Wilson's moral diplomacy laid the groundwork for democratic nations to create international political conglomerates and cemented 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
Moral diplomacy is a form of diplomacy proposed by US President Woodrow Wilson, in which support is given only to countries whose beliefs are analogous to that of the US. This promotes the growth of US ideals and weakens nations with different ideologies.
The core principle of moral diplomacy was the concept of self-determination, or the moral right of people to choose their form of government and leaders through democratic elections. Wilson's moral diplomacy was based on moral values rather than imperialist interests.
Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft upheld a strictly nationalist foreign policy, seeking to expand the American Empire and its interests abroad.
Mexico posed a problem for Wilsonian diplomacy. The country had been in a state of revolution since 1899 and came under the rule of the counter-revolutionary General Victoriano Huerta in 1913. Wilson refused to recognise this government, which he saw as oppressive and not reflective of the Mexican people's wishes.
Wilson's moral diplomacy created a legacy of failure and ill will, especially in Latin America. It led to permanent hostility between the US and Latin America, and interventionism in countries like Mexico, Nicaragua, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.
