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Wilson's Vision and the League of Nations Debate Wilson’s Vision and the League of Nations Debate T H E CHOICES P R O G R A M Explore the Past... Shape the Future History and Current Issues for the Classroom WATSON INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES BROWN UNIVERSITY WWW.CHOICES.EDU T H E CHOICES P R O G R A M Explore the Past... Shape the Future History and Current Issues for the Classroom WATSON INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES BROWN UNIVERSITY WWW.CHOICES.EDU CHOICES for the 21st Century Education Program May 2004 Director Susan Graseck Curriculum Developer Andy Blackadar Curriculum Writer Sarah Cleveland Fox International Education Intern Laura Viscomi Office Assistant Bill Bordac Professional Development Coordinator Lucy Mueller Program Coordinator for Capitol Forum Barbara Shema Program Associates Acknowledgments Langan Courtney Madeline Otis Wilson’s Vision and the League of Nations Debate was developed by the Choices for the 21st Century Education Program with the assistance of the research staff at the Watson Institute for Staff Associate Anne Campau Prout International Studies, scholars at Brown University, and other experts in the field. We wish to thank the following researchers for Unit Author their invaluable input: Kelly Keogh James G. Blight Professor of International Relations (Research) The Choices for the 21st Century Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University Education Program develops cur- ricula on current and historical Thomas Knock international issues and offers Professor of History workshops, institutes, and in- Southern Methodist University service programs for high school teachers. Course materials place janet Lang special emphasis on the impor- Adjunct Associate Professor (Research) tance of educating students in Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University their participatory role as citizens. Charles Neu The Choices for the 21st Century Professor Emeritus of History, Brown University Education Program is a program of the Thomas J. Watson Jr. Institute Wilson’s Vision and the League of Nations Debate is part for International Studies of a continuing series on public policy issues. New units at Brown University. are published each academic year and all units are updated Thomas J. Biersteker regularly. Director, Watson Institute for International Studies Visit us on the World Wide Web — www.choices.edu Contents Introduction: Wilson’s Vision 1 Part I: The Scourge of War 2 The War Begins 3 America’s Neutrality 4 America Enters the War 7 Fighting the War at Home 9 Part II: Securing the Peace 12 Wilson Heads to Europe 13 Wilson in Paris 14 The Treaty at Home 20 Fall, 1919: The Moment of Decision 21 Options in Brief 22 Option 1 Progressive Internationalists: Support the Treaty 23 Option 2 Reservationists: Make Changes to the Treaty 26 Option 3 Irreconcilables: Reject the Treaty 29 Epilogue: The Legacy of the League 34 The Life of the League 34 The United States After WWI 36 The Cold War 37 Wilson’s Legacy 38 Supplementary Documents and Resources 39 THE CHOICES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY EDUCATION PROGRAM is a program of the Watson Institute for Inter- national Studies at Brown University. CHOICES was established to help citizens think constructively about foreign policy issues, to improve participatory citizenship skills, and to encourage public judgement on policy issues. The Watson Institute for International Studies was established at Brown University in 1986 to serve as a forum for students, faculty, visiting scholars, and policy practitioners who are committed to analyzing con- temporary global problems and developing initiatives to address them. © Copyright May 2004. First edition. Choices for the 21st Century Educa- tion Program. All rights reserved. ISBN 1-891306-72-3. WWW.CHOICES.EDU ■ WATSON INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, BROWN UNIVERSITY ■ CHOICES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY EDUCATION PROGRAM ■ Wilson’s Vision and the ii League of Nations Debate Europe 1914 ■ CHOICES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY EDUCATION PROGRAM ■ WATSON INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, BROWN UNIVERSITY ■ WWW.CHOICES.EDU Wilson’s Vision and the League of Nations Debate 1 Introduction: Wilson’s Vision he First World War was the costliest war value of galvanizing public opinion. Tthe world had experienced both in human The destruction of World War I had a pro- and economic terms. From 1914 to 1918, nine found impact on Wilson. He was appalled by million people died fighting on battlefields the secret deals governments made with each that stretched all over Europe, parts of Africa, other, the arms build-up, the authoritarian Asia, the Middle East, and the world’s oceans. empires which refused to negotiate, and the The optimism that had greeted the dawn of the bitterness among the powers of Europe. His twentieth century was destroyed. Fourteen Points plan, which many called over- World War I was the first war which used ly idealistic, tried to prevent these problems in the entire industrial capacity of modern states the future. Wilson hoped for an end to war and and sacrificed national economies for wartime an increase in international cooperation. goals. It was the conflict that ended some of Since Wilson’s time the nations of the Europe’s oldest empires and introduced the world have fought in a yet more deadly world idea of self-rule based on ethnic, racial, and war and in numerous regional conflicts, some religious identity, a concept that still causes of which have persisted for decades. At the wars today. It was the war which led to the same time, international organizations now rise of Nazi Germany and caused the Bolshe- work to regulate trade, resolve disputes among vik seizure of power in Russia, sowing the nations, and prevent governments from op- seeds for the Cold War. It was also the first pressing their people. time that the United States participated in a global struggle and found itself center stage in So where do Wilson’s ideas stand today? determining world affairs. What is his legacy? Why do some people cringe and others applaud when they hear a The effects of World War I warrant a closer politician referred to as “Wilsonian?” This examination of the war itself and of the sub- reading will help to answer those questions. sequent Paris Peace Conference that tried to create a peaceful world out of the carnage. U.S. What will this reading entail? President Woodrow Wilson, who designed a Parts I and II of this unit explore World Fourteen Points Peace Plan that included the War I, Wilson’s attempts to establish a just creation of a League of Nations, envisioned peace, and the Treaty of Versailles. such a world. The concepts and ideas that Following an investigation of World War emerged from the Paris Peace Conference I, you will be transported back to France in influence much of our thinking about inter- 1919 where you will take part in the confer- national issues today. At the time, however, ence to determine the future of Europe. You Wilson’s vision for the world was radical. will be asked to define what constitutes a just Why did Wilson develop his settlement for your assigned country and to ideas for a peace plan? champion that cause. Woodrow Wilson was an outsider to poli- You will also sit in the 1919 United tics. He was, first and foremost, an educator. In States Senate to decide what role America 1902 he became president of Princeton Uni- should play in the postwar world. Many of versity. Eight years later he became governor the questions the Senators discussed then are of New Jersey, and just two years into his first still relevant today: What should America’s political post he was elected president. Wilson relationship with its allies look like? How had little support from politicians in Wash- involved should the United States be in ington and was not well-known to the public. international affairs? What are our national As the son of a minister, however, he was an interests? How should the U.S. military be effective speaker and was familiar with the employed for matters of world security? WWW.CHOICES.EDU ■ WATSON INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, BROWN UNIVERSITY ■ CHOICES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY EDUCATION PROGRAM ■ Wilson’s Vision and the 2 League of Nations Debate Part I: The Scourge of War n August 1914, the major European pow- technologies introduced by the summer of Iers declared war against one another. The 1914. causes of the conflict were longstanding and Britain, the world’s greatest naval power, had brought the continent to the brink of war felt insecure when Germany began a major numerous times in the past. Competition for shipbuilding program. Both countries began resources, an arms race, and ethnic and politi- building the largest and most destructive cal alliances were the primary causes. battleships the world had ever seen. In an attempt to improve its odds in fighting the Why did European countries British navy, Germany also began to produce start an arms race? destructive submarines. The more weapons The Industrial Revolution of the nine- and troops each country amassed, the more teenth century had led insecurity each felt. As to enormous economic a result, each coun- and cultural changes try searched for and in Europe. The trend he lamps are going out all found allies on which toward speedy, large- Tover Europe, we shall never it could depend if war scale production see them lit again started. spurred economic in our lifetime.” competition among —British Foreign Minister Sir Edward What defensive Britain, France, Ger- Grey, August 1914 alliances did many and Russia. As the European these countries sought countries form? raw materials needed In 1882, Germany, Italy, and Austria- for manufacturing and new markets to sell Hungary formed the Triple Alliance, a pact their goods, the competition led to struggles which required each to come to one another’s for overseas colonies.
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