First World War Dbq

14 Point

The horror and death of the First World War was a tragic event, the new weaponry brought about destruction that was not seen before. The wide spread fighting and death was massive and left Europe crippled. Many people said it was the war to end all wars, and many people wanted to make sure it would be. President Woodrow Wilson earned his noble prize for his relentless fight for establishing world peace and what he gave up for it.

Woodrow Wilson, the governor of New Jersey, won his first election back in 1912 and became the 28th president of the United States (“Woodrow”). He served two terms, lasting through the First World War 1914-1918. Wilson did all he could to keep the U.S. out of the war; he always wanted to maintain peace.

But after numerous attacks on U.S. merchant ships by German subs and the Zimmerman Telegram sent to Mexico, Wilson had congress declare war on Germany in 1917 (“Woodrow”). Although his administration also involved moves for reform with thins like the Federal Reserve and Federal Trade Wilsons presidency was highly dominated by the war (“Woodrow”).
Woodrow was a strong fighter for peace, and did not want to be involved in such a terrible war in the first place.

After the wars end Europe was crippled and exhausted from such a long terrible war, and people wanted to bring about a plan that would stop such an outbreak to occur again. It was Wilson’s belief that Europe’s international relations were heavily flawed and had caused the inevitable war. (“The Treaty”). Quick summary of the main four issues believed to cause the conflict: monarchial empires, national self-determination, secret diplomacy, and military alliances (“League of Nations”). Wilson knew what he wanted to create and what needed to be changed and regulated, so he created a plan for lasting world

peace.
Woodrow Wilson devised a plan that he thought could achieve the lasting world piece that he hoped to achieve. Wilson proposed his 14 point plan that he hoped would bring “just and secure peace” and not only cause a shift in power (“Wilson’s”). Most of the points in this plan were addressing specific territorial type issues between the nations in the war (“Wilson’s”). Five out of the 14 points were ideas that would help promote a peaceful world; like the end of secret conventions between nations (“Wilson’s”). The last point is called for a group of nations coming together, “A general association of nations must be formed under specific covenants for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity to great and small states alike.” (“Avalon”). The fourteenth point is what would come to be known as the League of Nations and necessary to enforce many of his earlier points (“The League”).
Though the league had success and much support in the European countries Wilson was not able to convince his own people of its importance or gain their support, therefor the United States never joined the League of Nations. Wilson was a democratic president who needed the approval of a republican controlled senate (Gwertzman). Back in 1918 Wilson had written a letter and told democrats they needed to retain control of the senate and “that a Republican victory would give comfort to the Germans.” (Gwertzman). This made the senior senator Henry Cabot Lodge and the other republicans very angry and frustrated with Wilson (Gwertzman). But the republicans cannot hold the entire blame of the U.S. not joining the league. President Wilson refused to make any compromises or changes to the plan that the senate asked for, he decided it was better to try and convince them later than settle with them (Gwertzman).
The president then started a long process to try and get the plan accepted and passed by the senate by travelling the country and giving speeches to gain support directly from the American people throughout 1919 (“Woodrow“).

When on this trip Woodrow suffered from such pressure that on September 25th he collapsed when travelling to Wichita, Kansas (“Woodrow”). The physical and mental stress he was under had become just too much and the rest of the tour as cancelled after the incident (“Woodrow”). Then on October 2nd Wilson suffered a terrible stroke leaving him partially paralyzed, he had to give up his fight and his wife had to help fulfill his tasks (“Woodrow”). The League of Nations was again voted on in March on 1920, but again failed to pass through the senate due to the lack of compromise (“Woodrow”). In 1920 Woodrow was replaced by republican Warren Harding, who had strong opposition against the league (Gwertzman). In December of 1920 Woodrow Wilson was awarded the Nobel Piece Prize of 1919 for his efforts to create the League of Nations and his effort to end the war (“MILESTONES”). He was not able to attend his ceremony due to the stroke he suffered, but sent a telegram thanking the committee

(“MILESTONES”).
Woodrow Wilson was a man of peace; he entered the terrible war in hope to bring back order in the end. He created an organization and plan to try and keep people and the world safe. His very own health was taken from him because of the pressure and pain he put himself through to make his vision come true for the world. Though in the end he could not get his country to support him. Woodrow Wilson fought terribly hard for world peace and gave put everything he could, even his health, to his cause.