Woodrow WilsonWoodrow Wilson•28th president (1913-1921)28th president (1913-1921)

•Democratic PartyDemocratic Party

•Campaigned on a program Campaigned on a program called the New Freedom, called the New Freedom, which stressed individual and which stressed individual and state’s rights.state’s rights.

•President during WWIPresident during WWI

Wilson’s Rhetoric Wilson’s Rhetoric TechniquesTechniques

““Prolific public communicator,” as he was Prolific public communicator,” as he was concerned with reaching all people in the concerned with reaching all people in the audience, not just the elite.audience, not just the elite.

He saw democracy as a tool for creating He saw democracy as a tool for creating harmony within the nationharmony within the nation

Most of Wilson’s speeches spoke directly to Most of Wilson’s speeches spoke directly to the people, rather than the Congressthe people, rather than the Congress

Spoke of peace and equalitySpoke of peace and equality Spoke to unify Americans as partners with Spoke to unify Americans as partners with

other countriesother countries

“Wilson used rhetoric memorably and effectively…it was because he knew that words counted, and that great words, at rare moments in a nation’s life, can have the force of great deeds.”—Mary Stuckey

Wilson’s Governing Wilson’s Governing IdealsIdeals

Nonpartisan LeadershipNonpartisan Leadership-rather than speaking on behalf of a -rather than speaking on behalf of a political party, Wilson referred to political party, Wilson referred to the people as a united group.the people as a united group.

““I am not interested in a party I am not interested in a party that is not an embodied program that is not an embodied program based upon a set of principles; and based upon a set of principles; and our present job is to get the people our present job is to get the people who believe in principles to stand who believe in principles to stand shoulder to shoulder and to do shoulder to shoulder and to do things from one side of the things from one side of the continent to the other”continent to the other”

--Remarks to the press at the first --Remarks to the press at the first press conferencepress conference

The Limits of LeadershipThe Limits of Leadership-Wilson believed the president -Wilson believed the president was powerful leader, but not he was powerful leader, but not he the only force. The people were the only force. The people were his leaders.his leaders.

““I have not yet presented I have not yet presented any legislature my private views any legislature my private views on any subject, and I never shall; on any subject, and I never shall; because I conceive it to be part because I conceive it to be part of the whole process of of the whole process of government that I shall be government that I shall be spokesman for somebody, not spokesman for somebody, not for myself.”for myself.”

--Wilson speaking to a delegation from the --Wilson speaking to a delegation from the Nations Suffrage ConventionNations Suffrage Convention

National Identity-Wilson identified American as

acting in a united interest. Americans were equal and not divided; therefore it was his task to strengthen the unity.

“To such a task we can dedicate or Eves and our fortunes, everything that we are and everything that we have, with the pride for those who know that the day has come when America is privileged to spend her blood and her might for the principles that gave her birth and happiness and the peace which she has treasured.”—Wilson’s War Message

Wilson’s War Message

On April 2, 1917 Wilson On April 2, 1917 Wilson

addressed the Congress to addressed the Congress to

declare war.declare war.

It began with the Germans use of unrestricted It began with the Germans use of unrestricted submarine warfare. On May 7th, 1915 a German submarine warfare. On May 7th, 1915 a German submarine (u-boat) sank the British cruise ship submarine (u-boat) sank the British cruise ship Lusitania.  1,198 people were killed, including 128 Lusitania.  1,198 people were killed, including 128 Americans. Attacks continued and the US became Americans. Attacks continued and the US became involved.involved.

The Rhetoric of the War The Rhetoric of the War MessageMessage

Wilson makes it clear that it is a war Wilson makes it clear that it is a war against all nationsagainst all nations

He makes a distinction between people He makes a distinction between people and the government, reiterating that and the government, reiterating that Americans did not hate the Germans.Americans did not hate the Germans.

““Neutrality is no longer feasible or Neutrality is no longer feasible or desirable where the peace of the world is desirable where the peace of the world is involved and the freedom of its peoples, involved and the freedom of its peoples, and the menace to that peace and and the menace to that peace and freedom lies in the existence of autocratic freedom lies in the existence of autocratic governments backed by organized fore governments backed by organized fore which is controlled wholly buy their will, which is controlled wholly buy their will, not by the will of their people.”not by the will of their people.”

Wilson’s Fourteen PointsWilson’s Fourteen Points

► Delivered on January 8, Delivered on January 8, 19181918

► The Fourteen Points The Fourteen Points were Wilson’s response were Wilson’s response to Post WWIto Post WWI

► He proposed a program He proposed a program for world peace through for world peace through The League of NationsThe League of Nations

-Open covenants -Open covenants of of peace, free peace, free trade, trade, equal equal treatments of all treatments of all nations, etc.nations, etc.

The Rhetoric of The Fourteen The Rhetoric of The Fourteen PointsPoints

► ““The program of the world’s peace, The program of the world’s peace, therefore, is our program; and that therefore, is our program; and that program, the only possibly program, as we program, the only possibly program, as we see it, is this:...”see it, is this:...”

► When addressing the Congress Wilson When addressing the Congress Wilson briefly discusses the objects war and briefly discusses the objects war and his desire for peace for the world.his desire for peace for the world.

► A shorter speech, with shorter sentence, A shorter speech, with shorter sentence, focusing mainly on the proposed pointsfocusing mainly on the proposed points

► Wilson asks rhetorical questions throughout the speech, Wilson asks rhetorical questions throughout the speech, forcing Congress to think about what he is presenting, forcing Congress to think about what he is presenting, rather than simply hearing his opinions.rather than simply hearing his opinions.

► Wilson describes the people of the world as “partners,” Wilson describes the people of the world as “partners,” establishing national unity.establishing national unity.

Peace In Both SpeechesPeace In Both SpeechesWilson emphasizes that idea of Wilson emphasizes that idea of peace being beneficial for all peace being beneficial for all nationsnationsIn both speeches, Wilson makes In both speeches, Wilson makes reference to democracy, implying reference to democracy, implying the desire for safety and security.the desire for safety and security.Americans are not divided in either Americans are not divided in either speech therefore proving his speech therefore proving his principle of national unity.principle of national unity.There is a clear statement made in There is a clear statement made in both speeches that the German both speeches that the German people are not hated by Americans. people are not hated by Americans. Americans then are not jealous of Americans then are not jealous of German power. Wilson, then, German power. Wilson, then, makes the distinction between makes the distinction between people and their government.people and their government.

Roosevelt and WilsonRoosevelt and Wilson

Both presidents stressed the importance of the Both presidents stressed the importance of the people’s role in governmentpeople’s role in government

They each were mediators of working toward They each were mediators of working toward peacepeace

Roosevelt and Wilson used rhetoric concerning Roosevelt and Wilson used rhetoric concerning improvement. Roosevelt spoke for improvement. Roosevelt spoke for environmental issues, and Wilson spoke for environmental issues, and Wilson spoke for national equality and peace after the war.national equality and peace after the war.

Both presidents advocated strengthening the Both presidents advocated strengthening the role of the US in international affairs. role of the US in international affairs.