Question: Outline Wilson’s case for the war against Germany.

Are his points valid and what is

the evidence?

Response: From reading the documents that were listed under prompt 2 and reading from our

book, American Civilization: A Brief History, I would say that Germany’s actions towards the

United States and all the other nations that were also affected by Germany were uncalled for.

Which is why Woodrow Wilson sent Congress the “War Message” to protect the citizens of the

United States from Germany. In Woodrow Wilson’s message to Congress, his main priority was

to address the issues that they have had with Germany and to ask them for a declaration for war.

The start of Germany’s attempts that angered the United States which lead to the Great War was

when Germany announced that they will “use its submarines to sink every vessel that sought to

approach either the ports of Great Britain and Ireland or the western coasts of Europe or any of

the ports controlled by the enemies of Germany within the Mediterranean” (War Message). After

this was announced, everything for the United States and all the other nations went downhill

from there. This paper argues that the reasons behind the declaration of the war against Germany

made in the “War Message” by Woodrow Wilson were valid points to claim because he wanted

to protect the citizens and democracy and restrict the creation of allies against the United States.

In Woodrow Wilson's message to Congress, his argument for declaring war on Germany

was the attack on the British ship, Lusitania, that was carrying ammunition. Since Germany

made the announcement of destroying ships that came across Europe, Germany used their

submarines to sink the ship. Because of this, “almost 1,200 civilians died, including 128

Americans” (American Civilization: A Brief History, pg. 302). After the United States heard

about this, they were infuriated, and it began the resentment towards the Germans. Also, there

was no warning that was told to passengers on the ship of an attack which made this even more
upsetting. Which explains why Wilson made this one of his points to declare war on Germany

because Germans already took so many lives from that event and he wanted to protect the

American lives for the future, so this would never happen again. Wilson argued that “Property

can be paid for; the lives of peaceful and innocent people cannot be (War Message). He was

more concerned for the lives of the citizens rather than the destruction of the ships itself.

Besides wanting to protect the people, he also wanted to protect democracy. Wilson does

this by claiming that “we shall fight for the things which we have always carried nearest our

hearts -- for democracy” (War Message). By making this statement, Wilson gave another reason

for a declaration of war against Germany. Americans wanted to be free and have a voice and the

German government was restricting them from that because of their cruel form of government.

In attempt to have a war with Germany, they could have that opportunity and live in a world

where there is “peace and safety to all nations and make the world itself at last free” (War

Message).

One of the last events that occurred before the beginning of the Great War and Wilson’s

creation of the “War Message” was the secret message that was given to the United States in

attempt of a war with Mexico. Germany used the Zimmerman Telegram to send Mexico the

secret message, but it was taken by the British and given the United States. Which made the

Americans more infuriated with the Germans because they were turning Mexico against them

and creating more allies for the attack on the United States. Which urged him to make a point to

Congress, “that it means to stir up enemies against us at our very doors the intercepted

[Zimmermann] note to the German Minister at Mexico City is eloquent evidence” (War

Message), which gives another valid reason for declaring war on Germany.
 Since the beginning, Germany has been pushing the buttons of the United States and they

were done with it. Woodrow Wilson wanted to take stand against the German government and

sent the “War Message” to Congress to speak for the sake of his people. In doing this, the points

he made in his message were valid because he sought protection for his people, democracy, and

to stop a war with another ally. Germany’s attack on the Lusitania, their cruel government and

the Zimmerman note is what set the United States over the edge, thus creating World War I.

Citations

American Civilization: A Brief History. OpenStax College, 2014,

file:///C:/Users/cortn/Downloads/HIST_1700_Whole_3rd_Ed%20(4).pdf.

Wilson, Woodrow. “War Message.” Digital History, 2016,

http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=3899.