President Wilson’s decision to keep America out of the European war was motivated by a number of factors. First and foremost, he wanted to avoid plunging the United States into a lengthy and costly conflict that would have little benefit for American interests (Ambrosius, 2017). Additionally, Wilson believed that America could best support the cause of democracy and freedom by remaining on the sidelines. If the United States became embroiled in the war, it would be seen as fighting for imperialistic goals rather than for democratic principles. Finally, Wilson was also concerned about the potential domestic backlash if he led America into another foreign war (Keene, 2021). Many Americans were still weary from their experiences in World War I, and another conflict would likely be unpopular with the public.
I think President Wilson made the right decision for America not to join the European war for almost three years. America was an isolationist country, and Wilson wanted to keep it that way. He knew that if America got involved in the European war, it would inevitably become a world war. He also believed that the Allies were not fighting a just war and did not want to get involved in something he did not believe in (Keynes, 2017). When Germany began unrestricted submarine warfare in early 1917 and started sinking American ships, Wilson decided it was time for America to get involved. He issued the Declaration of War on April 6, 1917.
Similarly, his reasoning was twofold: he felt that American involvement would only lead to a protracted and bloody conflict with no clear victor. He also believed that our country’s interests were best served by remaining neutral and building up our military and economic strength (Keynes, 2017). Reflecting back, it is easy to see President Wilson’s assessment was correct. The war did rage on for four more years, claiming millions of lives and leaving Europe in shambles. The war was unimaginably destructive; more than nine million soldiers and seven million civilians were killed between 1914 and 1918 (Keynes, 2017). It is hard to imagine what could have been accomplished had those lives not been lost. The war also spread deadly diseases like influenza and typhus, which killed even more people.
References
Ambrosius, L. E. (2017). Woodrow Wilson and American internationalism. Cambridge University Press.
Keene, J. D. (2021). The United States and the first world war. Routledge.
Keynes, J. M. (2017). The economic consequences of the peace. Routledge.