America’s Fight to “Make the World Safe for Democracy” Prior to the start of WWI in 1914, European nations’ initial goals of obtaining colonial possessions overseas needed the security and support of alliances in order to achieve military domination within Europe (Foner 733). Alliances offered flexibility, increased security, defensive support, along with the allowance of political input and restraint if diplomatic partners ever proposed acting in extreme measures. The Dual Alliance between Germany and Austria was formed in 1879, while France and Russia allied in 1894 with the later entente formation with Britain in 1904 and 1907 respectively (Mulligan). These alliances would later be tested in 1914. In efforts to achieve military domination,
…show more content…
Wilson so strongly believed and had hopes of peace between the countries fighting in WWI. His values and hopefulness is the main reason the U.S. remained neutral for two and a half years after the war began in 1915. It was not until the discovery of the Zimmermann Telegram in March of 1917 that pushed the U.S. into the war. The Zimmerman Telegram revealed Germany’s proposal of an alliance with Mexico, against the U.S., with the promise of helping to obtain Mexico’s previously lost land by the U.S. in the Mexican War between 1846 and 1848 (Foner 735). This proposal of an alliance brought the threat of Germany closer to America’s home front via Mexico. The release of the telegram to the American public brought outrage and strengthened the belief of war amongst citizens. In declaring war, Wilson promised the “United States would fight to ensure democracy, self-government, the rights and liberties of small nations, and an international peace organization that would end war forever” (“Woodrow Wilson…”). Entering into the war brought a multitude of changes in America’s military, economic, and social sectors. The Selective Service Act of May 1917 required 24 million men—all men, healthy and able—to register with the draft. This resulted in the army size of 120,000 men to 5 million men (Foner 737). The economy seemed to have benefitted the most from America’s admittance …show more content…
The government’s propaganda emphasized “democracy” and “great cause of freedom” to shape the public opinion’s and beliefs on the purpose for America’s involvement in the war (Foner 740). This establishment of government control of propaganda led to the passing of the Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918. These acts made it illegal to spy, interfere with the draft and war effort, or make spoken or printed statements that tried to create “contempt, scorn, or disrepute” on America’s current form of government (Foner 742-743). Both displayed the government’s practice of restricting free speech. Eric Foner comments on the fact that the government essentially “view[ed] critics of American involvement not simply as citizens with a different set of opinions, but as enemies of the very ideas of democracy and freedom”
Wilson so strongly believed and had hopes of peace between the countries fighting in WWI. His values and hopefulness is the main reason the U.S. remained neutral for two and a half years after the war began in 1915. It was not until the discovery of the Zimmermann Telegram in March of 1917 that pushed the U.S. into the war. The Zimmerman Telegram revealed Germany’s proposal of an alliance with Mexico, against the U.S., with the promise of helping to obtain Mexico’s previously lost land by the U.S. in the Mexican War between 1846 and 1848 (Foner 735). This proposal of an alliance brought the threat of Germany closer to America’s home front via Mexico. The release of the telegram to the American public brought outrage and strengthened the belief of war amongst citizens. In declaring war, Wilson promised the “United States would fight to ensure democracy, self-government, the rights and liberties of small nations, and an international peace organization that would end war forever” (“Woodrow Wilson…”). Entering into the war brought a multitude of changes in America’s military, economic, and social sectors. The Selective Service Act of May 1917 required 24 million men—all men, healthy and able—to register with the draft. This resulted in the army size of 120,000 men to 5 million men (Foner 737). The economy seemed to have benefitted the most from America’s admittance …show more content…
The government’s propaganda emphasized “democracy” and “great cause of freedom” to shape the public opinion’s and beliefs on the purpose for America’s involvement in the war (Foner 740). This establishment of government control of propaganda led to the passing of the Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918. These acts made it illegal to spy, interfere with the draft and war effort, or make spoken or printed statements that tried to create “contempt, scorn, or disrepute” on America’s current form of government (Foner 742-743). Both displayed the government’s practice of restricting free speech. Eric Foner comments on the fact that the government essentially “view[ed] critics of American involvement not simply as citizens with a different set of opinions, but as enemies of the very ideas of democracy and freedom”