Changes

Tensions with Mexico, then in the throes of a violent civil war, escalated almost to the point of warfare. The U.S. sent military forces to chase Pancho Villa and to control the port of Vera Cruz. In 1917 both parties pulled back, and by 1920 the civil war was over.  

Tensions with Mexico, then in the throes of a violent civil war, escalated almost to the point of warfare. The U.S. sent military forces to chase Pancho Villa and to control the port of Vera Cruz. In 1917 both parties pulled back, and by 1920 the civil war was over.  

More serious was the worldwide Great War (now called [[World War I]]) that began in 1914 and was killing millions of soldiers to no apparent end. Proclaiming neutrality, President [[Woodrow Wilson]] tried repeatedly to broker peace in 1915–1916, but the adversaries in Europe were both planning to win and did not want a negotiated settlement. After Germany started sinking American merchant ships in 1917, and tried to entice Mexico into going to war with the U.S. Wilson in April 1917 asked and received a declaration of war from Congress. Wilson argued persuasively that it was now necessary to fight against militarism and for democracy in the world. He set up a draft and trained millions of soldiers, sending the [[American Expeditionary Forces]] to the [[Western Front]] in France under the command of General [[John J. Pershing]]. The Americans and the Allies defeated the Germans in late 1918—the so-called "armistice" was in effect a German surrender.

More serious was the worldwide Great War (now called [[World War I]]) that began in 1914 and was killing millions of soldiers to no apparent end. Proclaiming neutrality, President [[Woodrow Wilson]] tried repeatedly to broker peace in 1915–1916, but the adversaries in Europe were both planning to win and did not want a negotiated settlement. After Germany started sinking American merchant ships in 1917, and tried to entice Mexico into going to war with the U.S. Wilson in April 1917 asked and received a declaration of war from Congress. Wilson argued persuasively that it was now necessary to fight against [[militarism]] and for democracy in the world. He set up a draft and trained millions of soldiers, sending the [[American Expeditionary Forces]] to the [[Western Front]] in France under the command of General [[John J. Pershing]]. The Americans and the Allies defeated the Germans in late 1918—the so-called "armistice" was in effect a German surrender.

Wilson, aided by his top advisor [[Colonel House]], played a dominant role in ending the war with his [[Fourteen Points]] and played the central role at the 1919 [[Paris Peace Conference]] that set the peace terms. Wilson failed to obtain Senate approval for the [[Treaty of Versailles]] because it required American entry into the [[League of Nations]], and Republicans led by Senator [[Henry Cabot Lodge]] demanded amendments (called "reservations") to protect American sovereignty, which Wilson rejected. The League went into operation but was ineffective; the U.S. never joined it.  

Wilson, aided by his top advisor [[Colonel House]], played a dominant role in ending the war with his [[Fourteen Points]] and played the central role at the 1919 [[Paris Peace Conference]] that set the peace terms. Wilson failed to obtain Senate approval for the [[Treaty of Versailles]] because it required American entry into the [[League of Nations]], and Republicans led by Senator [[Henry Cabot Lodge]] demanded amendments (called "reservations") to protect American sovereignty, which Wilson rejected. The League went into operation but was ineffective; the U.S. never joined it.