"The League of Nations failed to take hold in America because the country was not yet ready for so global a role. Nevertheless, Wilson's intellectual victory proved more seminal than any political victory could have been. For, whenever America has faced the task of constructing a
new world order, it has returned in one way or another to Woodrow Wilson's precepts."
- Henry Kissinger, former secretary of state, Diplomacy, 1994
"The United States would never ratify the treaty and would never join the League of Nations. Many newspapers and commentators expressed regret at the outcome, and most laid the blame on Wilson- properly so. [Connecticut Senator] Brandegee's cruel remark about Wilson's strangling
his own child was not far off the mark. Wilson had blocked every effort at compromise.
John Milton Cooper Jr., historian, Woodrow Wilson, 2009
a) Briefly describe ONE major difference between Kissinger's and Cooper's interpretations about the
Versailles Treaty and the League of Nations.
b) Briefly explain how ONE specific historical event that is not explicitly mentioned in the excerpts
could be used to support Kissinger's interpretation.
c) Briefly explain how ONE specific historical event that is not explicitly mentioned in the excerpts
could be used to support Cooper's interpretation.
a) The major difference between Kissinger's and Cooper's interpretations about the Versailles Treaty and the League of Nations is that Kissinger views Wilson's intellectual victory as more important than any political victory, while Cooper blames Wilson for blocking every effort at compromise and not allowing the treaty to be ratified.
b) To support Kissinger's interpretation, one could point to the fact that Wilson's Fourteen Points, which formed the basis of the Versailles Treaty, were widely accepted and adopted by other countries, demonstrating the intellectual victory of Wilson's ideas.
c) To support Cooper's interpretation, one could point to the fact that Wilson refused to compromise on the League of Nations, which ultimately led to the treaty not being ratified by the United States.
a) One major difference between Kissinger's and Cooper's interpretations is the perspective on Wilson's role in the failure of the League of Nations. Kissinger sees Wilson's intellectual victory as seminal because whenever the US constructs a new world order, it returns to Wilson's precepts. Cooper, on the other hand, blames Wilson for blocking every effort at compromise, suggesting that Wilson's unwillingness to make concessions was the reason for the United States' failure to ratify the treaty and join the League of Nations.
b) One specific historical event that could support Kissinger's interpretation is the United States' reluctance to involve itself in international affairs during the interwar period. The US did not ratify the Treaty of Versailles nor join the League of Nations, remaining largely isolated and focused on domestic matters. This demonstrates a lack of readiness for a global role, supporting the idea that America was not yet ready for the League of Nations as Kissinger suggests.
c) One specific historical event that could support Cooper's interpretation is the political climate and opposition within the United States during the negotiations of the Versailles Treaty. Senator William Borah and other isolationist politicians fiercely opposed the treaty and the League of Nations, arguing that it threatened American sovereignty and independence. This opposition and Wilson's inability to compromise could be seen as factors contributing to the failure of the United States to join the League of Nations, adding to Cooper's argument.
a) One major difference between Kissinger's and Cooper's interpretations about the Versailles Treaty and the League of Nations is their views on Wilson's role in the failure of the League of Nations. Kissinger argues that Wilson's intellectual victory through his precepts had a lasting influence on American foreign policy, suggesting that Wilson's ideas were still highly influential despite the failure to join the League. On the other hand, Cooper assigns the blame to Wilson for not compromising and blocking every effort that could have led to the ratification of the treaty and membership in the League.
b) One specific historical event that could support Kissinger's interpretation is the United States' subsequent leadership in creating a new world order after World War II. The creation of the United Nations and the US taking a leading role in establishing the international system of collective security can be seen as a return to Wilson's idealistic vision of a global organization to prevent future conflicts.
c) One specific historical event that could support Cooper's interpretation is the US Senate's refusal to ratify the Treaty of Versailles and join the League of Nations. This rejection by the Senate demonstrated that a significant portion of American politicians and society did not support Wilson's vision and saw it as a failure rather than an intellectual victory. The fact that the US remained outside the League and pursued a more isolationist foreign policy in the following years could be seen as evidence supporting Cooper's perspective.
a) One major difference between Kissinger's and Cooper's interpretations is their evaluation of Woodrow Wilson's role in the failure of the League of Nations. Kissinger portrays Wilson's intellectual victory and precepts as seminal, suggesting that his ideas have continued to shape American approaches to constructing a new world order. Cooper, on the other hand, criticizes Wilson for his refusal to compromise and blames him for blocking every effort at reaching a solution. While Kissinger emphasizes Wilson's enduring influence, Cooper holds him responsible for the failure.
b) One specific historical event that could support Kissinger's interpretation is the aftermath of World War II. After the war, the United States played a central role in the establishment of the United Nations, a successor organization to the League of Nations. This demonstrated a willingness to engage in global affairs and participate in constructing a new world order, which aligns with Kissinger's assertion that America periodically returns to Wilson's precepts. By actively joining the United Nations, the U.S. demonstrated a recognition of the need for international cooperation and a commitment to shaping global affairs.
c) One specific historical event that could support Cooper's interpretation is the failure of the U.S. Senate to ratify the Treaty of Versailles, which included the creation of the League of Nations. This rejection is a key event not mentioned in the excerpts. The Senate's rejection was largely due to the opposition of a group of senators known as the "Irreconcilables," who were against any international alliances or organizations that could potentially infringe upon American sovereignty. Their refusal to ratify the treaty was a significant factor in preventing the United States from joining the League of Nations. This event supports Cooper's assertion that the blame for the U.S. not joining the League should be placed on Wilson's inability to compromise and gain enough support from within his own country.