Essay On Was Woodrow Wilson Responsible For The League Of Nations
Was Woodrow Wilson responsible for the failure of the United States to join the League of Nations? John M. Cooper, Jr. bases his opinion that Wilson was responsible for the failure of America joining the League because of his illness that happened during his speaking tour in 1919. Many factors went into why Wilson chose to do act the way he did and Cooper makes sure to explain them all. The first factor mentioned was that Wilson was ahead of his time and this was directed towards him and his personal role. Cooper states, “Without Wilson, the League fight almost certainly would not have arisen in the first place. A less bold and visionary leader-one who was not ahead of his time-would not have attempted to do so much” (182). Wilson refused
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Carleton argues Wilson was not responsible for the failure of joining the League because Carleton felt that even if Wilson had agreed to the Lodge Reservation, how sure are we that by Wilson joining in, it would have been enough for America to get in the League? Carleton points out, “Under the Lodge Reservation, every signatory nation had to accept them before the United States could become a member” (194). He uses this proof to support his claim that if Wilson had agreed with the Lodge, but the U.S. still didn’t make it into the League because not all fifteen nations agreed to let us in, would we still be blaming Wilson? Carleton also states that if Wilson was as stubborn as he was made out to be, then he would have been a joke for a president. He was accused of not understanding world politics but in that day, what American statesman understood world politics more than Wilson? Carleton also dismissed the fact that Wilson was accused of not being able to compromise. He stated “If the truth of this accusation must rest on Wilson’s attitude during the Treaty fight, and I think it must, for he showed remarkable adaptability in other phases of his Presidency” (194-195). Given the situations Wilson was in as a president, from the stroke to dealing with the League, Wilson has had no choice but to adapt and compromise with certain situations. Carleton ends his claim with the focus more on Lodge because he procrastinated votes on the treaty for two weeks and made it
Carleton argues Wilson was not responsible for the failure of joining the League because Carleton felt that even if Wilson had agreed to the Lodge Reservation, how sure are we that by Wilson joining in, it would have been enough for America to get in the League? Carleton points out, “Under the Lodge Reservation, every signatory nation had to accept them before the United States could become a member” (194). He uses this proof to support his claim that if Wilson had agreed with the Lodge, but the U.S. still didn’t make it into the League because not all fifteen nations agreed to let us in, would we still be blaming Wilson? Carleton also states that if Wilson was as stubborn as he was made out to be, then he would have been a joke for a president. He was accused of not understanding world politics but in that day, what American statesman understood world politics more than Wilson? Carleton also dismissed the fact that Wilson was accused of not being able to compromise. He stated “If the truth of this accusation must rest on Wilson’s attitude during the Treaty fight, and I think it must, for he showed remarkable adaptability in other phases of his Presidency” (194-195). Given the situations Wilson was in as a president, from the stroke to dealing with the League, Wilson has had no choice but to adapt and compromise with certain situations. Carleton ends his claim with the focus more on Lodge because he procrastinated votes on the treaty for two weeks and made it