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Realism v Idealism Realism – a foreign-policy perspective where a country pursues relations with other countries only out of self interest Idealism – A foreign-policy perspective where a country’s foreign policy is guided by ideology

Realism v Idealism Realism – a foreign-policy perspective where a country pursues relations with other countries only out of self interest Idealism – A

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Page 1: Realism v Idealism Realism – a foreign-policy perspective where a country pursues relations with other countries only out of self interest Idealism – A

Realism v Idealism Realism – a foreign-policy

perspective where a country pursues relations with other countries only out of self interest

Idealism – A foreign-policy perspective where a country’s foreign policy is guided by ideology

Page 2: Realism v Idealism Realism – a foreign-policy perspective where a country pursues relations with other countries only out of self interest Idealism – A

Woodrow Wilson President Wilson strongly believed in self-

determination – the right of a people to chose their own government

Yet he intervened in the affairs of other countries more than any previous President. Upholding the Roosevelt corollary, he sent troops into Haiti in 1915, the Dominican Republic in 1916, and Cuba in 1917.

Page 3: Realism v Idealism Realism – a foreign-policy perspective where a country pursues relations with other countries only out of self interest Idealism – A

Mexico

Wilson hesitated to intervene directly in a Mexican Revolution, which was already underway when he took office. He personally detested the leader of a bloody coup, Victoriano Huerta, and refused to recognize his government.

Two events led Wilson to occupy the port city of Veracruz: a dispute over American honor at Tampico and a rumored shipment of German arms en route to Huerta.

Page 4: Realism v Idealism Realism – a foreign-policy perspective where a country pursues relations with other countries only out of self interest Idealism – A

MexicoOutrage over occupation of Veracruz, both at home and

abroad, stunned Wilson, who agreed to allow the ABC powers–Argentina, Brazil, and Chile–to mediate.

Wilson backed Venustiano Carranza, who followed Huerta into power. Rebel leader Pancho Villa (who was angry at American intervention) responded by crossing the border and killing 17 Americans.

Wilson sent John J. Pershing and 15,000 troops after him into Mexico, but Villa eluded capture.

Page 5: Realism v Idealism Realism – a foreign-policy perspective where a country pursues relations with other countries only out of self interest Idealism – A

The start of World War IThe assassination of the heir to the throne of the

Austro-Hungarian Empire, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, started World War I. However, by June 1914, almost any troublesome event could have sparked war.

Territorial conflicts and military buildups had caused nations to organize formal alliances. Members of the Triple Entente–which came to be called the Allies–were Britain, France, and Russia. Opposing the Allied Powers were the Central Powers, which consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire.

Page 6: Realism v Idealism Realism – a foreign-policy perspective where a country pursues relations with other countries only out of self interest Idealism – A

World War IBy November 1914, opposing troops on the

Western Front in Belgium and France faced each other in a deadlock. On the Eastern Front in Russia and Germany, the Central Powers rapidly pushed back a disorganized Russian Army, which grew increasingly disaffected with the czar’s leadership.

Page 7: Realism v Idealism Realism – a foreign-policy perspective where a country pursues relations with other countries only out of self interest Idealism – A

World War IWorld War I resulted in greater loss of life and

property than any previous war. The terrible destruction resulted from a combination of old-fashioned strategies and new technology–poison gas, flamethrowers, and tanks. The battles extended to the seas and skies as submarines prowled the oceans and airplanes engaged in dogfights.

Page 8: Realism v Idealism Realism – a foreign-policy perspective where a country pursues relations with other countries only out of self interest Idealism – A

World War IThe Russian Revolution led to the end of

fighting on the Eastern Front, freeing Germany to concentrate all its forces on the Western Front. There soldiers spent most of their time mired down in trenches, firing at each other across a “no-man’s land.”

Page 9: Realism v Idealism Realism – a foreign-policy perspective where a country pursues relations with other countries only out of self interest Idealism – A
Page 10: Realism v Idealism Realism – a foreign-policy perspective where a country pursues relations with other countries only out of self interest Idealism – A

US NeutralityWhile Wilson publicly proclaimed neutrality, American

interests leaned toward the Allies. Many of the people who had recently emigrated to the United States had their favorite sides, though most tried to distance themselves from the bloodbath overseas.

n Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan encouraged Wilson to forbid Americans from traveling in the submarine zone as a way of maintaining neutrality. However, Wilson refused, leading Bryan to resign after the sinking of the Lusitania.

Page 11: Realism v Idealism Realism – a foreign-policy perspective where a country pursues relations with other countries only out of self interest Idealism – A

Election of 1916Americans reelected Wilson in 1916 based, in

part, on the Democratic campaign slogan: He kept us out of war! However, a number of forces pushed Wilson closer and closer to war–his own moral commitment to the Allies, heavy investment in Allied victory by American business leaders, and Wilson’s deep desire to help shape a lasting peace.

Page 12: Realism v Idealism Realism – a foreign-policy perspective where a country pursues relations with other countries only out of self interest Idealism – A

US enters the warTwo events finally led the United States

to enter the war: (1) interception of the Zimmerman telegram, offering Mexico “lost lands” in the United States in exchange for an alliance with Germany, and (2) Germany’s use of unrestricted submarine warfare, including an attack on the American supply ship Illinois.

On April 2, 1917, President Wilson asked the United States Congress to declare war on Germany.