Presiden Woodrow Wilson's effect on the rejection of the Treaty of Versailles by the United States.

Essay by alyssalHigh School, 11th gradeA+, April 2004

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Although President Wilson did show stubborness in trying to get the Senate to accept the Treaty of Versailles, the result of their rejection was more because of the conservative and liberal opposition forces. This goes with that some Senators, like William Borah, thought it called for "force to destroy force" and "war to prevent war." Wilson stood by it wholly but could not convince the Senate to take his side.

Conservatives and liberals both did not want the Treaty of Versailles. The conservatives thought it called for "conflict to destroy conflict" when they thought that after such a great war, the resulting compact would cause there to be no such event ever again. Liberals also thought the war would "end in a peace" which the Treaty did "not even try to satisfy."

Woodrow Wilson stood by his article, and believed that the League of nations would not work if the United States was not involved.

America was "the light of the world," and the opponents to the League were putting out that light. The Senate however still rejected his article. The thought was that hurting Germany and the Germans for years to come was "abhorrent and detestable." This was thought to be an immoral act even if the punishment to Germany led to the prosperity of the United States. However, germany was punished, but the world later felt their resentment in World War II.

On the other hand, there was some resentment shown toward Wilson for his stubborness shown, and it was foolish that the United States was not represented at the Geneva Convention of the League of Nations. However, this did not play as big a role in the Senate's rejection of the Treaty as the opposing sides' forces did. They had a general detest for the...