Woodrow Wilson and World War 1 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Woodrow Wilson and World War 1 - Research Paper Example 2 He had no belief in the Presidential form of government in the earlier years of his political career. He considered that the checks and balances in the U.S. Constitution did not provide for accountability on any arm of the federal structure. He rather advocated Parliamentary form of government. However in the later years he gained confidence in the Presidential system and got elected twice as the President.3 World War 1 World War 1 started in the year 1914 among the European countries due to the deep rooted naval rivalry between the great powers especially Great Britain and Germany who had amicably settled their differences only temporarily. France had misgivings about its lost provinces of Alsace and Lorraine to Germany and the resultant enmity had been brewing between them. Austria-Hungary and Russia had been resisting war with the Balkan countries in the years 1912 and 1913. In fact Europe had been witnessing a series of crises since 1900 that had brought great powers almost clo se to war. By 1914, the differences among these countries became insoluble and they started engaging in war against one another. 4 The United States remained neutral for some years before it was forced into war due to Germany’s aggressive postures. Woodrow Wilson did not believe in wars and advised the citizens of America not to take sides in the war that was in progress in Europe among Germany and Great Britain and others. Wilson lost his wife in 1915 and he later married Edith Boling Galt as his second wife in the same year. In the same year, Germany’s sinking of ships of Britain gave an opportunity for Wilson to mediate between the warring countries of Europe. His visit to Europe for convening a peace conference was reciprocated by European powers. Although the United States was growing in power, it was finding it difficult to protect her trading rights in the midst wars that were fought for victory and survival.5 Declaration of Neutrality Woodrow Wilson, in his mes sage to Congress urged his countrymen to remain neutral. Since people of the United States had their origins of many nations at war in Europe, it was quite natural for them to take conflicting stands. But as the citizens of the United States they should be bound together without exciting passions. If the people are divided, then it would not be possible to maintain peace and mediate as an impartial country. 6 First Warning to Germany Since Germany had been indulging in destroying merchant vessels of the United Sates and killing its people , Wilson issued his first warning to Germany on 10 February 1915 to the then Imperial German Government against attacking merchant vessels on the high seas without entering and searching for any contraband. He informed the German Government that it would be held to a strict accountability in case of attack on the merchant vessels of the U.S. resulting in loss of lives and property.7 War message to congress In view of the continued belligerence of G ermany against the United States, Wilson announced severance of diplomatic relations with Germany from 3 February 1917. In his war message to the congress on 2 April 1917, Wilson informed that Germany was indiscriminately sinking ships of neutral and friendly nations which was a challenge to all mankind. When all the affected nations were to decide how to meet the situations, the United Sates would not take action in a spirit of revenge or assertion of the country’s physical might but as the vindication of human right which the nation championed. On 26th February it was informed to the Congress that the country would assert its neutral rights with arms, right to use the sea in retaliation of unlawful interference, right to safeguard its people against unlawful violence. But as things stood in April, it