Wilson Flashcards
Military
Only fight on the Western Front
Never declares war with Bulgaria or Ottoman Empire, only Germany and A-H.
Small army - takes while to train so don’t arrive until the end of the year in significant numbers
Second Russian Revolution - withdraw from war early. Germany’s attention completely on Western Front now.
Don’t play a significant role really until May 1918.
AEF
America Expeditionary Force
Go to war as an associated power not an ally, certain amount of distinction.
Saw themselves as being different and bringing something new
Military plan follows the same as diplomatic plan - doesn’t integrate forces with Britain and France.
Russian Intervention
Send 20k to Russia until 1920 - protect Russian railroads against Germans.
Lenin calls for global revolution - terrifying as ideologically opposite.
March 1918 Bolsheviks sign agreement with Germany and go into civil war.
Why does WW issue the 14 points
Immediate reaction to Revolution. Clarifies peace aims.
Convincing Europe and Russia that he is fighting for peace not imperialism or domination
American war aims
Open peace treaties
Freedom of the seas - arguably reason US goes to war
Equality of trade conditions - worldwide open door
Arms reduction - arms race had increased tensions
Adjustment of colonial claims - great powers carving up for themselves, giving people freedom, idea of self-determination
“General Association of Nations” - the League
Offered this just peace on terms of German surrender, genuinely believed a just peace would come about.
Partisan Politics
WW believes he is the best to mediate peace
Internal divisions - not all keen on his plans
1918 mid-terms - asks people to vote Democrats into Senate for a successful peace
This upsets Republicans - believe it shows them to only care about domestic issues and are voted in. Now have a huge say but WW doesn’t bring any to Paris - making enemies before he is even there.m
European Interests
Hoped he would appeal on ideological grounds and could persuade with economic power - GB and FRA owe $3 billion but not willing to budge
Seeking vengeance - no interest in self-determination etc. FRA lost million + of troops, lost land, want to cripple Germany
America didn’t lose as much and didn’t fight on own soil
WW belief in himself didn’t translate well to European powers
League of Nationa
Began to draft covenant at the conference
Becomes clear they are not happy, 1919 39 senators speak out against it not protecting US interests
Article 10 is the big issue - expected to protect if member attacked. League council make this decision but US constitution says that congress must decide
Don’t want someone else deciding where they fight
Compromise Peace
Will say yes if compromise - FRA wants reparations and GB doesn’t want freedom of the seas
This will destroy eco power of Ger and affect european economy
Germany had to admit to war guilt
WW sets his sights extremely high for a power that has just emerges recently as a great power -> criticism of him
Irreconcilables
Led by two senators - Hiram Johnson and William Borah
Rejected an involvement in any European organisation
Calls of Jefferson to avoid entanglements and alliances
Getting involved with old world nations is a mistake
Not interested in imperial struggles, focus on domestic priorities
Don’t american troops to be the worlds policemen - can be in the New World though
Reservationists
Henry Cabot Lodge - head of the committee dealing with the treaty
Has 14 reservations - US will decide when and where to go to war
Undermines WW ideas of involvement in LON
Suggestions to change the LON don’t sit well with WW - heated internal debate
Domestic debate
WW wants it his way or no way, increasingly so after stroke on speaking tour. Lashed out at critics
Americans want to focus on domestic issues.
Red Scare - more wary of foreigners
Questioning what troops died for - not for European empires to be upheld
Treaty tied with LON - cannot pass one without the other
Nov 1919 unusual coalition of extremes in Senate - those who didn’t want it and those who didn’t want it with Lodge’s reservations
Second vote Irreconcilables and Reservationists against LON without reservations
1920 majority in favour of LON but not 2/3
