While the country was engaged in a heated debate upon its domestic issues, the World War broke out in Europe in 1914.  As a hundred years before, American rights upon the high seas became involved at once.  They were invaded on both sides; but Germany, in addition to assailing American ships and property, ruthlessly destroyed American lives.  She set at naught the rules of civilized warfare upon the sea.  Warnings from President Wilson were without avail.  Nothing could stay the hand of the German war party.

After long and patient negotiations, President Wilson in 1917 called upon the nation to take up arms against an assailant that had in effect declared war upon America.  The answer was swift and firm.  The national resources, human and material, were mobilized.  The navy was enlarged, a draft army created, huge loans floated, heavy taxes laid, and the spirit of sacrifice called forth in a titanic struggle against an autocratic power that threatened to dominate Europe and the World.

In the end, American financial, naval, and military assistance counted heavily in the scale.  American sailors scoured the seas searching for the terrible submarines.  American soldiers took part in the last great drives that broke the might of Germany’s army.  Such was the nation’s response to the President’s summons to arms in a war “for democracy” and “to end war.”

When victory crowned the arms of the powers united against Germany, President Wilson in person took part in the peace council.  He sought to redeem his pledge to end wars by forming a League of Nations to keep the peace.  In the treaty drawn at the close of the war the first part was a covenant binding the nations in a permanent association for the settlement of international disputes.  This treaty, the President offered to the United States Senate for ratification and to his country for approval.

Once again, as in the days of the Napoleonic wars, the people seriously discussed the place of America among the powers of the earth.  The Senate refused to ratify the treaty.  World politics then became an issue in the campaign of 1920.  Though some Americans talked as if the United States could close its doors and windows against all mankind, the victor in the election, Senator Harding, of Ohio, knew better.  The election returns were hardly announced before he began to ask the advice of his countrymen on the pressing theme that would not be downed:  “What part shall America—­first among the nations of the earth in wealth and power—­assume at the council table of the world?”

=General References=

Woodrow Wilson, The New Freedom.

C.L.  Jones, The Caribbean Interests of the United States.

H.P.  Willis, The Federal Reserve.

C.W.  Barron, The Mexican Problem (critical toward Mexico).

L.J. de Bekker, The Plot against Mexico (against American intervention).