| The United States of America, as widespread | | | | morally and ethically responsible to bring about |
| opinion states, finds itself teetering precariously on | | | | world accord. It is ironic that the man who |
| a fine balance today, between taking up its cudgel | | | | persuaded other nations to accept an |
| to police the destructive forces plaguing the world | | | | arrangement for a peaceful settlement would |
| and shrugging its shoulders and walking away to | | | | face resistance to it at home. |
| safety and defeat. | | | | Right at the outset, Wilson made a tactical error |
| President George W. Bush, despite continuing | | | | when he included just one Republican in his team |
| opposition from his own people, has placed his | | | | to Versailles. This immediately set the Republicans |
| country at the unenviable point of no-return. | | | | against any arrangement that Wilson advocated. |
| Interestingly, what is happening in America today | | | | Moreover, the worsening state of his health |
| seems to be an echo of the events of 1918 | | | | prevented him from doing all that he could to |
| when another president had to face resistance to | | | | persuade the Senate. In addition to this, he had |
| the forceful stance he wanted his country to | | | | strong detractors and critics to contend with. |
| adopt in the aftermath of World War 1. | | | | One of his harshest critics was Henry Cabot |
| America chose to take a neutral stand when | | | | Lodge, the chairman of the Senate Foreign |
| European nations got enmeshed in a world | | | | Relations Committee. He purposely delayed the |
| conflict, and President Woodrow Wilson endorsed | | | | process of ratifying the treaty because of the |
| this stand. He wanted overseas trade over the | | | | deep personal antagonism he had towards the |
| Atlantic to remain uninterrupted and this did not | | | | President. But the strongest force that resisted |
| allow for a partisan stance in European affairs. | | | | the ratification and joining the League was made |
| However, British naval strategies wrecked all | | | | up of the American people. Having lost |
| trade with Germany, and the latter reacted by | | | | innumerable lives in the war and its aftermath, |
| torpedoing all ships steaming through the Atlantic, | | | | with survivors suffering the after--effects of the |
| including U.S. merchant vessels. When the Lusitania | | | | war, Americans did not want to become involved |
| went down in 1915, taking with it among others, | | | | anymore. They wanted to retreat, to resume |
| 128 Americans, and Germany continued to target | | | | their detached status. As Senator William E. Borah |
| American ships, public opinion in America swung | | | | from Idaho stated, "We are told that this treaty |
| around, in favor of a proactive stance. The | | | | means peace. Even so, I would not pay the price. |
| Zimmerman telegram in 1917 gave the President | | | | Would you purchase peace at the cost of your |
| the final reason to enter the war. An | | | | independence?" This expression summed up the |
| overwhelmingly strong troop of American soldiers | | | | attitude of the American people in general. No one |
| started on the Meuse-Argonne offensive in the | | | | paid any attention when Wilson lamented, "If the |
| September of that year and forced Germany to | | | | treaty is not ratified by the Senate, the war will |
| yield by November 1917. Having been instrumental | | | | have been fought in vain, and the world will be |
| in halting the destruction wrought upon the | | | | thrown into chaos. I promised our soldiers, when I |
| European world, America had to take on the | | | | asked them to take up arms, that it was a war |
| responsibility to ensure that such a war would | | | | to end wars..." |
| never repeat itself. Or, so President Wilson felt. | | | | The question today is not if it is an idealistic notion |
| Hence, when negotiations started for a peace | | | | that is being enforced by the President of the |
| treaty in Versailles, early in 1919, America played | | | | United States. The question is whether history will |
| a leading role. | | | | repeat itself - whether America will take the |
| Woodrow Wilson led the negotiations, for he | | | | same road that it did over the Treaty of |
| strongly believed that peace must be sought out | | | | Versailles. |
| "to make the world safe for democracy." His was | | | | Gabriel Rise has been working at essays writing |
| the moderating voice amidst a Babel of conflicting | | | | service for several years. You can ask her about |
| opinions, although focused on wreaking vengeance | | | | customer service concerning the term papers or |
| on Germany. He supported strongly the idea of a | | | | college essays that you have. |
| League of Nations that would make each nation | | | | |