Wilson
the idealist eventually changed to Wilson the realist, because he had tried
to change the European world by getting involved in World War I.
Wilson the realist also was involved in the affairs of China,for his fear
of revolution and also the rise of Japan; he also became involved in America's
southern neighbor, Mexico. Wilson developed a real concern for Mexico,
especially after the revolution.
Wilson adopted a paternalistic attitude toward Mexico, perhaps even an
imperialistic point of view regarding Mexico.
The Caribbean was also a problem for Wilson, in the Caribbean region he practiced not human rights diplomacy, but dollar diplomacy. He had built his second term as president on the platform of not entering the world war, one of his campaign slogans was "he kept us out of war". While Wilson was dealing with the problems of the United States, trouble was brewing in Europe. On June 28, 1914 an agent of the Serbian Black Hand Society assassinated the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austrian-Hungarian empire. The assassination of the Duke, set off the intricate alliances that the European countries had built. By July the Austrian Hungary empire declared war on Serbia. Germany had to follow through with her alliance with the empire and declared was on Russia. Russia then mobilized to defend Serbia, with the aid of France's alliance. Great Britain rounded out the alliance against Germany and its allies.
Although
Wilson had entered his second term declaring America being neutral in the
conflict occurring in Europe, there was a growing pressure for America
to join the Allies against the Triple Entente. Wilson holds an idealistic
point of view for the war, he truly believes that America should
"go to war to end war". On April 2 he delivers his war message to congress,
by April 6 Congress declares to go to war and Wilson signs the agreement.
