The United States in the late 1800s, from William Seward as Secretary of State to Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft was often considered to have imperialistic goals in the Western hemisphere. But Wilson, did not see it that way. He believed that his country had altruistic goals of liberty and freedom. In the years before the United States was dragged into WWI, Wilson had his own idealistic goals of encouraging our American neighbors to become strong constitutional and democratic states which would then join with the United States to form a confraternity for peace which the world could emulate.
But first, President Wilson needed a plan for America to shed it's reputation as an imperialist nation. Woodrow Wilson shared this plan with congress in 1915. Wilson began with a little history. In the early days of our great nation, when then nations of Central and South America were fighting for their own independence, our government took it upon itself to be some sort of guardian against "any encroachments or efforts at political control from the other side of the water". Wilson explained, that while our nation may have no other goal but freedom and self-government in mind, it "was always difficult to maintain such a role without offense to the pride of the peoples" and "without provoking serious misconceptions of our motives". Wilson used Mexico as the example of our intent. With Mexico, our intentions were put to the test. Whether or not we benefited Mexico remains to be seen. But one thing was for sure, "Her fortunes are in her own hands". We helped to free Mexico from Spain, we brought her to the door of liberty, but now we "hopefully await the rebirth of the troubled Republic". Wilson explained that our role will be to aid and befriend Mexico, but we will not coerce here into self-government.
Wilson wanted the United States to lead the Western Hemisphere in a new spirit of cooperation. He dreamed of an alliance of American republics which would respect territorial integrity, guarantee each others political independence and settle all disputes by peaceful methods. This is what Woodrow Wilson termed 'Pan-Americanism'. Here is how Woodrow Wilson explained it in his second annual address to congress.
"The moral is, that the states of America are not hostile rivals but cooperating friends, and that their growing sense of community or interest, alike in matters political and in matters economic, is likely to give them a new significance as factors in international affairs and in the political history of the world. It presents them as in a very deep and true sense a unit in world affairs, spiritual partners, standing together because thinking together, quick with common sympathies and common ideals. Separated they are subject to all the cross currents of the confused politics of a world of hostile rivalries; united in spirit and purpose they cannot be disappointed of their peaceful destiny.
This is Pan-Americanism. It has none of the spirit of empire in it. It is the embodiment, the effectual embodiment, of the spirit of law and independence and liberty and mutual service."
This was to be a model for the whole world. The whole world would witness its "bonds of honorable partnership", and it's economic advantages. But, not until "peace shall have at last resumed its healthful tasks". The other half of the world was now at war, and America had to prepare itself not for peace, but for national defense. It was at this time, that Woodrow Wilson laid out his plan to increase the military force of the United States. Woodrow requested an increase in the standing regular army to 141,843 men with an additional force of 400,000 National Guardsmen, trained over the next three years. He also requested additional battleships, cruisers, submarines, gunboats, ammunition ships. America wanted peace, but was preparing for war. Unfortunately, in 1915, we had no idea that just two years later, the Selective Service Act would draft 2.8 million men into military service. And by then, Wilson's dream of Pan Americanism and peace seemed very far off indeed.
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29556
http://www.presidentprofiles.com/Grant-Eisenhower/Woodrow-Wilson-The-new-freedom-abroad.html
http://www.jstor.org/stable/979702?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_in_World_War_I
http://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/1/28-woodrow-wilson-1856-1924-granger.jpg
http://www.jonesreport.com/images/161007_panamerican.jpg
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