After raging tensions between two alliances, the triple entente and the triple alliance, World War I began. The main causes of World War I had a effect on the path the war would take us. Woodrow Wilson kept America out of the war for years, but soon joined with multiple reasons that America would not tolerate. There were over 10 million military personnel casualties along with Germany left in ruins. America is called the place of freedom, justice, and equality. They are known as the place of opportunity and the “land of the free.” During the War America tried to spread democracy as well as promote it there. While it is true America used their military sources to make the world safe for democracy, we failed to validate the rights of African Americans and refused to give women’s voting rights early on.
It is true that the United States had a good impact on fostering democracy during the war, and was able to end it within a year from joining. Before they entered, they fostered democracy throughout the countries. In Woodrow Wilson’s speech ‘The Meaning of Liberty’ he says,” Now nobody anywhere would dare to doubt that we are independent and can maintain our independence.” Countries will now look at America as a strong government with a democracy, and other countries would want to apply a democracy to their government for how effective it is.
America joined the war because of resumed unrestricted submarine warfare, the interception of the Zimmerman telegram, the sinking of the Lusitania, and the Russian Revolution. When America entered the war, they showed countries what a stable democratic government looks like, but World War I endangered the survival of democracy. In order to solve that Woodrow Wilson gave a speech titled ‘14 Points’ outlining a effective solution for lasting peace different from ‘The Treaty of Versailles’ which took a more non democratic approach to creating peace.
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He says,”Absolute freedom of navigation upon the seas” and goes on to say,”The removal, so far as possible, of all economic barriers”, trying to spread and foster democracy throughout the nations. As Wilson does a good job broadening democracy outside of America, he protects democracy at home when he gives his ‘Declaration of Neutrality’ speech. The ‘Declaration of Neutrality’ was formal statement given by Woodrow Wilson on August 4, 1914 that declared that America will remain neutral between any of the conflict in Europe.
Wilson says,”The spirit of this nation in this critical matter will be determined largely by what individuals and society and those gathered in public meeting do and say”. Wilson is protecting democracy by allowing the people to have a say in the future of America. While Wilson protected democracy through allowing individuals determine the spirit of the nation, he also grants women the right to vote through the 19th Amendment.
In 1918 Wilson delivered a speech on Women’s Suffrage and says,”…as it is now certain that other great free nations will enfranchise them”. Now that America has granted women the right to vote other countries will think it is appropriate to enforce the right as well. He has once again fostered and protected democracy by letting all genders equal rights and teaching others countries that this is the change that should be made.
