HNRS 3500: Honors Thesis ProposalHNRS 3500: Honors Thesis Proposal The First World War: American Ideals The First World War: American Ideals

and Wilsonian Idealism in Foreign and Wilsonian Idealism in Foreign PolicyPolicy

Karis DurantKaris DurantMentor: Dr. Randolph “Mike” CampbellMentor: Dr. Randolph “Mike” Campbell

University of North Texas, Department of University of North Texas, Department of HistoryHistory

April 3, 2008April 3, 2008

it was calledit was called“the war to end all “the war to end all

wars”wars”

World War IIWorld War II

Korea Korea

Vietnam Vietnam

Gulf WarGulf War

War on Terror (Afghanistan War on Terror (Afghanistan and Iraq) and Iraq)

www.archives.gov/.../images/woodrow-wilson.jpg

pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=226.

““He Kept Us Out He Kept Us Out of of

the War”the War”Wilson’s 1916 campaign Wilson’s 1916 campaign

sloganslogan

““The President’s [McKinley] The President’s [McKinley] desire is for peace. He can desire is for peace. He can not look upon the suffering not look upon the suffering and starvation in Cuba save and starvation in Cuba save

with horror. The with horror. The concentration of men, concentration of men,

women, and children in the women, and children in the fortified towns and fortified towns and

permitting them to starve permitting them to starve is unbearable to a Christian is unbearable to a Christian

nation geographically so nation geographically so close as ours to Cuba” close as ours to Cuba”

-William Day, Secretary of -William Day, Secretary of StateState

Spanish American War - 1898Spanish American War - 1898

““The world must be made safe The world must be made safe for democracy.for democracy. “ “

President Wilson President Wilson addressing Congress, addressing Congress,

April 2, 1917 April 2, 1917

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/f/fd/300px-Wilson_announcing_the_break_in_the_official_relations_with_Germany.jpg

“… “…we shall fight for the things we shall fight for the things which we have always carried which we have always carried

nearest our hearts – for nearest our hearts – for democracy… for a democracy… for a universal universal dominion of right by such a dominion of right by such a concert concert of free peoples as shall bring peace of free peoples as shall bring peace

and safety to all nations and make and safety to all nations and make the the world itself at last free. To such world itself at last free. To such a a task we can dedicate our lives and our fortunes, task we can dedicate our lives and our fortunes, everything that we are and everything that we everything that we are and everything that we have, with the pride of those who know that the have, with the pride of those who know that the

day has come when America is privileged to spend day has come when America is privileged to spend her blood and her might for the principles that her blood and her might for the principles that

gave her birth and happiness and the peace which gave her birth and happiness and the peace which she has treasured. God helping her, she can do no she has treasured. God helping her, she can do no

other.”other.”~ President Wilson, April 2, 1917 ~~ President Wilson, April 2, 1917 ~

http://www.presidentprofiles.com/images/prh_01_img0058.jpg

““The American people, to the The American people, to the entire disbelief of entire disbelief of

contemporary foreign contemporary foreign observers and to the disbelief observers and to the disbelief

of their own children of the of their own children of the next generation, were willing to next generation, were willing to

take a stand in the world for take a stand in the world for principle” (Ferrell).principle” (Ferrell).

Speeches given by WilsonSpeeches given by Wilson

– Feb. 26, 1916 - “Valor strikes only when it is Feb. 26, 1916 - “Valor strikes only when it is right to strike” right to strike”

– April 13, 1916 – “These are days that search April 13, 1916 – “These are days that search men’s hearts”men’s hearts”

– September 2, 1916 – acceptance speech for September 2, 1916 – acceptance speech for PresidencyPresidency

– October 26, 1916 – “The business of neutrality October 26, 1916 – “The business of neutrality is over”is over”

– November 1916 – “The day of isolation is gone”November 1916 – “The day of isolation is gone”– January 22, 1917 – “Essential terms of peace in January 22, 1917 – “Essential terms of peace in

Europe” Europe” – April 2, 1917 – Declaration of War April 2, 1917 – Declaration of War

The Dallas Morning News The Dallas Morning News January 23, 1917January 23, 1917

““What Mr. Wilson is sworn to do is What Mr. Wilson is sworn to do is prescribed by the Constitution. He is prescribed by the Constitution. He is sworn to execute faithfully the office sworn to execute faithfully the office of President of the United States… of President of the United States…

He is not sworn to execute the He is not sworn to execute the offices of the president of offices of the president of

humanity….” humanity….”

““The task he cuts out for the American The task he cuts out for the American people people

is a great one, worthy of our country is a great one, worthy of our country

and its grand ideals.” and its grand ideals.”

Senator Benjamin Tillman, South CarolinaSenator Benjamin Tillman, South Carolina

““It constitutes a shining ideal, seemingly It constitutes a shining ideal, seemingly unattainable while passions rule the world, unattainable while passions rule the world, but embodying nevertheless the hopes of but embodying nevertheless the hopes of

the nations both large and small.” the nations both large and small.”

The New York Times, January 23, 1917 The New York Times, January 23, 1917

““President Wilson’s address was President Wilson’s address was inspired by lofty idealism and voiced inspired by lofty idealism and voiced the aspirations of the whole world for the aspirations of the whole world for

a lasting peace founded on justice a lasting peace founded on justice and liberty.” and liberty.”

The Atlanta Constitution, January 23, 1917The Atlanta Constitution, January 23, 1917

Time MagazineTime Magazine March 20, 2008March 20, 2008

““But you don't hear many conservatives echoing the grand But you don't hear many conservatives echoing the grand Wilsonianism of Bush's Second Inaugural, in which he Wilsonianism of Bush's Second Inaugural, in which he

claimed that ‘America's vital interests and our deepest beliefs claimed that ‘America's vital interests and our deepest beliefs are now one.’ The fastest-growing species on the foreign-are now one.’ The fastest-growing species on the foreign-

policy right is what National Review editor Rich Lowry calls policy right is what National Review editor Rich Lowry calls ‘to hell with them’ hawks: conservatives who don't care how ‘to hell with them’ hawks: conservatives who don't care how

non-Americans run their societies as long as they don't non-Americans run their societies as long as they don't threaten us in the process. Among Democrats, hawkishness is threaten us in the process. Among Democrats, hawkishness is

out of fashion, but humanitarianism remains strong.” out of fashion, but humanitarianism remains strong.”

““Moralism and military force are both necessary to U.S. foreign Moralism and military force are both necessary to U.S. foreign policy, but the former shouldn't ride the latter into battle.” policy, but the former shouldn't ride the latter into battle.”

Americans have not, will not, and Americans have not, will not, and should not eliminate their should not eliminate their idealism, but perhaps by idealism, but perhaps by

studying the past, Americans studying the past, Americans will be able to create a better will be able to create a better blend of idealism and realism blend of idealism and realism

for the future.for the future.

Acknowledgments Acknowledgments

Dr. Randolph “Mike” CampbellDr. Randolph “Mike” Campbell Dr. Samuel MattesonDr. Samuel Matteson The Honors CollegeThe Honors College Dr. Alfred Hurley Dr. Alfred Hurley Casey, Christine, Elizabeth, Jenny, Casey, Christine, Elizabeth, Jenny,

Josh, RafaelJosh, Rafael

SourcesSources Bell, S. (1972). Bell, S. (1972). Righteous conquest: Woodrow Wilson and the evolution of Righteous conquest: Woodrow Wilson and the evolution of

the new diplomacy. the new diplomacy. Port Washington, NY: Kennikat Press, Inc.Port Washington, NY: Kennikat Press, Inc. Cohen, E (2001, November, 20).Cohen, E (2001, November, 20). World war IV. Wall Street Journal, World war IV. Wall Street Journal,

Retrieved October 30, 2007, from Retrieved October 30, 2007, from http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=95001493http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=95001493

Dallek, R (1969).Dallek, R (1969). 1898: McKinley's decision: the United States declares 1898: McKinley's decision: the United States declares war on Spain. war on Spain. New York, NY: Chelsea House Publishers.New York, NY: Chelsea House Publishers.

Ferrell, R. (1969). Ferrell, R. (1969). American diplomacy: a history. New York: W.W. Norton American diplomacy: a history. New York: W.W. Norton & Co.& Co.

Gould, L (1982).Gould, L (1982). The Spanish-American war and President McKinley. The Spanish-American war and President McKinley. Wichita, KS: University Press of Kansas.Wichita, KS: University Press of Kansas.

Kissinger, H (1974).Kissinger, H (1974). American foreign policy: expanded edition. American foreign policy: expanded edition. New York, New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company.NY: W.W. Norton & Company.

LaForte, R (Ed.). (1989).LaForte, R (Ed.). (1989). Our national heritage: essays in American history Our national heritage: essays in American history since 1965. since 1965. Dubuque, IO: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.Dubuque, IO: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.

Link, A (1954).Link, A (1954). Woodrow Wilson and the progressive era: 1910-1917. Woodrow Wilson and the progressive era: 1910-1917. New New York, NY: Harper & Row, Publishers.York, NY: Harper & Row, Publishers.

Link, A (1968).Link, A (1968). Woodrow Wilson: a profile. Woodrow Wilson: a profile. New York, NY: Hill and Wang.New York, NY: Hill and Wang. Smith, D (1965).Smith, D (1965). The great departure. The great departure. New York, NY: John Wiley and Sons, New York, NY: John Wiley and Sons,

Inc.Inc.