SUMMARY

Wilson and Mexico Woodrow Wilson wanted to foster democratic governments in Latin America; he got the United States involved in Mexican politics after Mexico experienced several military coups. The popular Francisco Pancho Villa tried to gain power in Mexico by promoting an anti-American program, even making raids across the border into New Mexico.

Causes of WWI Europe had developed a system of alliances that divided the continent in two. Democratic Britain and France, along with the Russian Empire, had formed the Triple Entente. Central Powers were comprised of the new German Empire, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. The assassination of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne by a Serbian nationalist triggered the world war in August 1914.

U. S. Enters WWI Most Americans supported the Triple Entente, or Allied Powers, at the outbreak of World War I. The Wilson administration declared the nation neutral but allowed businesses to extend credit to the Allies to purchase food and military supplies. Americans were outraged by the Germans’ use of unlimited submarine warfare, especially after the 1915 sinking of the British liner Lusitania. In 1917 unrestricted submarine activity and the revelation of the Zimmermann telegram, in which the Germans sought to incite the Mexicans to wage war against the United States, led the United States to enter the Great War.

Wilson’s Peace Plan Wilson insisted that the United States wanted no selfish gains from the war, only a new, democratic Europe to emerge from the old empires. His famous Fourteen Points speech outlined his ideas for the establishment of continent-wide democratic nation-states and a league of nations.

Treaty of Versailles The United States did not ratify the Treaty of Versailles because Wilson had alienated the Republican senators whose support he needed for ratification. A coalition of “irreconcilables” formed in the Senate: midwestern and western progressives who feared that involvement in a league of nations would stifle domestic reforms and that ratification would necessitate involvement in future wars. The irreconcilables were joined by “reservationists,” who would accept the treaty with certain limitations on America’s involvement in the League of Nations. Wilson’s illness and his refusal to compromise ensured failure of ratification.

Consequences of WWI As a result of the war, four European empires were dismantled, replaced by smaller nation-states. The reparations imposed on Germany and the “war guilt” clause laid the foundations for German bitterness. The presence of a Communist regime in the old Russian Empire had major consequences in America.