ABSTRACT
This chapter overviews Wilson’s policies during World War I. The first part focuses on Wilson’s program for reform during the war, notably the Fourteen Points, while overviewing the U.S. role in the war. It then addresses key themes such as Wilson’s response to the Central Powers and nationality movements, including the Polish, Czechoslovak, and Yugoslav movements. It considers the Wilson administration’s debates over whether to maintain the integrity of the Austro-Hungarian Empire or support the creation of new countries in East Central Europe. It addresses, briefly, the domestic impact of the war, notably the war’s impact on immigrant communities in the United States. It concludes with Wilson’s peace negotiations with Germany and the ultimate decision to reach the Armistice on 11 November 1918.
