Adam Taylor

                                                                                 Per. 2 AP US History

                                                                                 2-17-05

                                                                                 9.2.4

            President Wilson’s biggest goal was to get the Treaty of Versailles ratified by Congress. Sadly though he could not get it to work out, due to the actions that Congress took. The problem came from mainly different problems, but the main one being Senator Lodge. Due to the vote, the country would go with theme of isolationism, and have nothing to do with the treaty.

            Due to the actions that Senator Henry Cabot Lodge took, Wilson’s dream was crushed. Lodge was a political opposite, he was Republican, and Wilson was Democratic. Nevertheless this was not the main reason for the opposition to Wilson’s dream. The main reason was that Senator Lodge was a isolationist. He believed in staying out of international affairs. Which the biggest international affair at the time, was the Treaty of Versailles. The main thing or part of the Versailles Treaty was Wilson’s most beloved part, the convent. This convent was to put an alliance of nations to work together to make peace. To do was Wilson hoped this war would do, end all wars. Now the reason for Senator Lodge opposing this is that if we were to adopt the convent that would mean we would have to change our affairs to work to pleas other nations. So he did not oppose it just because it was but up by a Democrat, or he was evil and wanted another war, but that he was not his way to avoid future war. That if he was to adopt the convent then it would meaning no more isolationist ideals such as following Washington’s speech, were he tells to avoid long term/permanent treaties, and alliances fall into that.   Also no more following the Monroe Doctrine, meaning that if Senator Lodge was to keep his ideals, of isolationism, he had to get Congress to vote nay for the US participation in the Treaty of Versailles. So Senator Lodge got his party to support him in this, and vote nay and the results show this. The finally vote being 55 nays and only 38 ya. So it overall due to the opposition of Senator Lodge that Wilson’s dream was crushed in Congress.

            Another reason for Senator Lodge opposition to President Wilson’s dream is how he left to Europe. President Wilson left for Europe for the peace talks, and he brought with him all democrats, and friends. Not a single Republican was brought with him, and this angered the Republicans, and caused some of their opposition to his dream. They were angered that he thought that it was not important to bring along some Republicans to the most important peace talks probably ever up to that time. If Wilson had brought along some Republicans I feel that not as many of them would have voted no to his dream.   He just put on more fuel to feed the fire of the opposition.

            Wilson allowed for opposition to take place to back at home. He went overseas for a long period of time. Brought not a single Republican official with him, angering the Republican Party against him. With these problems were piling up against him, and so he put all his hope, his chips on getting the Treaty ratified. Which he just was not getting it work. He pushed himself to the max and then some trying to get it to pass, and in the end caused his own downfall. When he came back from Europe, he went on a 20 some day trip, covering 8000 miles, and giving a myriad of speeches and talks. Finally he collapsed and due to a stroke lost movement in his left leg. This would take him out of work for a while, and he would not be able to campaign his dream. Making it really easy for Senator Lodge and his party to vote a big nay to the Wilson dream.