Moral Diplomacy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This form of diplomacy proposed by Woodrow Wilson stated that America should not get involved with foreign affairs. This idea, however, was changed throughout the first World War and its main ideas were objected.

Although key to developing this policy, he was quick to disregard its main points when he entered the first World War. Because of Britain's monopoly on the transatlantic telephone line, America's main source of war news was biased in favor of the Allies. When combined with the pre-existing prejudice towards increasingly imperialistic Germany, the support for Britain was virtually unanimous leading up to the war. Ironically, Wilson declared America's entry into the war in seeming negation of his famed "Moral Diplomacy."

Under President Woodrow Wilson's "moral diplomacy" approach, William Jennings Bryan was appointed to the position of Secretary of State. Wilson also proposed an apology and compensation for the Panama ordeal to Colombia, but this was rejected by Congress. Woodrow Wilson, elected President in 1912, disliked the heavy-handed foreign policy of his predecessors. He said, "The force of America is the force of moral principle." Wilson's goals were to condemn imperialism, spread democracy, and promote peace.