‘Wilson’s basic difficulty in shaping US foreign policy during and after World War I was in reconciling unity at home with effective policymaking abroad.’ Discuss. During this essay I shall look at the principle issues which helped shaped Wilson's domestic and foreign policies. The historical significance of American staying neutral during World War One was important for the American public as well as for Wilson, but as the German U-Boat campaign became brutalised this neutrality was called into question. The first two parts of the essay will focus on the issues of American neutrality as well as the naval strategies of Germany and Britain and the U.S response to them. I shall then look at an important aspect of the post-war environment, that of the League of Nations and the failure of Wilson to not only procure a fairer Treaty of Versailles but also the Senate defeat of the treaty and thus the league.
Fischer, the provoker of this controversy, expresses this concept of German aggression by stating that since c.1900 Germany planned, and then was able to execute a war, due to their aggressive weltpolitik; based purely on expansionism. However, although many historians have agreed with, or adapted this argument, such as the view it was a ‘calculated risk’, or an ‘escape forward’ in order to relieve Germany from their domestic pressures, many have also criticised the approach. For instance, it is interpreted by some that Germany stumbled into a defensive war in order to protect themselves, and their ally; Austria-Hungary. However, considering these aspects, it could be argued that it is most conceivable that that Germany had planned the war and their aggressive foreign policy aimed to provoke a war in order to help their plans of annexation. Fischer’s argument that the outbreak of the First World War was due to Germany’s aggressive foreign policy, with a harsh focus on annexation, can be regarded as one of much significance.
Firstly, Appeasement was a policy adopted by Britain and France in the years before the outbreak of war. It involved giving Hitler what he wanted in the hope it would satisfy him and he would stop requesting more. As Britain and France found out, Hitler was a greedy man and no intention of stopping. So all Britain and France did was allow him to strengthen the German forces and empire. An example of this was the remilitarization of the Rhineland in 1936.
The Bolsheviks wanted originally, world wide revolution but the countries in the West were cautious of Communism and therefore the Bolsheviks felt that survival of the regime was more important, they hoped that the West would collapse. Lenin knew that Russia and Communism was being targeted by the West therefore he appointed Chicherin as Commissar for Foreign Affairs in 1918 in order to build better relations with other countries. They stated a commitment to open diplomacy so that no secret treaties were signed like they were in the old Tsarist regime. Russia withdrew from the First World War with the signing of the Treaty of Breast-Litovsk with Germany which although took the pressure of the war away from Lenin, Russia lost a large deal of land in Finland, the Baltic States and Bessarabia. These were not regained when the treaty was annulled in 1919 after Germany’s eventual defeat.
There were many reasons how the Nazi Soviet Pact played a greater part in causing war in 1939 than the policy of appeasement such as an important factor, which let Hitler invade Poland without having to fight a war on two fronts. Also, after the failure of appeasement, the British had guaranteed polish security. Once Germany invaded, the British would be forced to declare war. The Nazi Soviet Pact can be considered major causes of World War Two, however the policy of appeasement was the most important reason for the war. The Nazi-Soviet pact was responsible for the outbreak of war because France and Britain had decided to finally intervene.
To what extent did Britain achieve its foreign policy aims in the Great War and via the post war treaties? World War I was to be the ‘the war that ended all wars’ and by 1919 there was a strong British sentiment that another war should be avoided at all costs and this belief shaped British foreign policy in the following post war years. Although Britain largely wanted to withdraw from Europe its main aim was to maintain its status as a ‘great power’ across the globe. Invariably this meant Britain was linked to Europe as from this stemmed other aims; to ensure no single power would dominate Europe, to avoid getting involved in European wars, to avoid long term alliances or creating long term enemies (as this would make war more likely) and to maintain naval domination. These aims were achieved to varying degrees of success.
As President, Wilson had campaigned against corruption in politics and business. He concentrated on keeping the USA out of the war. Once the USA had joined the war, he drew up his Fourteen Point Plan as the basis for ending the war fairly, so that future wars could be avoided. Wilson wanted a 'fair and lasting peace', and he wanted the armed forces of all nations reduced, not just the losers, and a League of Nations created to ensure peace. His plan affected the Treaty of Versailles as some of the terms in that treaty came from Wilson’s Fourteen Points, including German troops leaving Russia and free trade between all countries.
I could blame the defeat which would have been the result of my action on him and come out as Peacemaker…But I had a greater obligation than to think only of the years of my administration and of the next election. I had to think of the effect of my decision on the next generation and on the future of peace and freedom in America and in the world.” However, this idealistic standpoint was mere propaganda. In private, President Nixon would favour a more militant and aggressive approach. This contradictory position not only exposed Nixon’s vulnerability to public opinion, but also his disillusion and misunderstanding of the complexities of such a war. It is imperative to understand the factors which influenced President Nixon’s strategies and decision making during the Vietnam War.
Stalin’s view is supported by Admiral D Leahy, who in his memoirs writes ‘we had adopted an ethical standard common to the barbarians of the Dark Ages’ This quote holds a substantial amount of weight to my argument due to Admiral D Leahy’s position as Roosevelt and Truman’s chief of staff, it would be expected for a man of such status to hold a view in support of America’s actions. Nevertheless, it is apparent that while Leahy may have condoned the dropping of the bomb to shorten the war, he would make no attempt to justify his country’s and his President’s actions. The moral implications were made apparent on the British mission to Hiroshima. Not only did the bombs claim the lives of over 200,000 civilians, the
A German diplomat named Bismarck knew that Germany’s neighbouring European Powers’ reaction would be to unite against their new empire. He was determined not allow the nation to become isolated or overpowered, so it was he who began the chain of international alliances which would form over following years. Bismarck practised a particular type of diplomacy called ‘Realpolitik’. This is defined as politics based on strictly practical, rather than idealistic, notions. However this particular style of diplomacy was also described as unprincipled and unscrupulous.