History of United States Presidents considered Internationalists - Essay Example

History of United s Presidents considered Internationalists Being an internationalist entails a lot of things. Several United States Presidents have been termed internationalists due to several reasons. It is critical to note that one may be termed n internationalist on the basis of his positions on a number of things these may involve the position he or she holds towards fighting for the rights of humanity. Social justice to one’s citizens as well as to the whole world is one of the qualifications that can make one become an internationalist. The other reason that can make one be viewed as an internationalist is the vision, mission as well as he undertakings o that person in order to solve international crises. These may involve international wars, price fluctuations as well as international financial crises. Financial depressions always have major impacts on the world economies. Financial depressions always lead to economic deteriorations associated with collapse of several sectors of developments. Any leader who uses his government position to revert such financial depressions is termed an internationalist. There are a number of people termed internationalists in the world. However, some of the good examples of internationalists include Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt who were all the United States of America’s Presidents. It is important to note that although Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt were all internationalists with the goal of increasing the US role in the world, they sought to achieve this in different ways. This paper is going to support this generalization by examining the different ways in which each of the presidents worked to increase the United States influence and powers abroad. Theodore Roosevelt as an Internationalist (1901-1909) Theodore Roosevelt was one of the most cherished internationalists. Theodore was an American president from the period of 1901 to 1909 and had several achievements during his tenure. Roosevelt was a visionary leader, a pragmatic leader as well as a true democrat who understood the plights of humanity in various measures. This president was a reformer but not a revolutionist (Oakes et al, 631, paragraph 1-5). He strongly believed in values of democracy, efficiency as well as social justice to all people worldwide. He used his position in government, as well as the government as a tool to ensure the achievement of his missions and visions to the general good of both Americans and humanity worldwide. Theodore Roosevelt was the first activist president with an agenda and he explored the use of democratic space in order to push for the agenda (Week, 5). This was meant to bring god to humanity, thereby stressing the importance of social justice. It was through the agenda that he championed the rights of humanity through ensuring that social justice applied to all without discrimination. This made him fall in the category of internationalists as an American president. His agenda made people to have social justice as well as to ensure that their rights to humanity were not compromised. This agenda was emulated in several nations worldwide thereby forming the cores of references to such governments with regards to upholding human rights and social justice. Theodore also championed for environmental protection, preservation and conservation. This shows that he was an environmentalist who understood the importance of having a healthy environment (Week, 5). This led to improved international relations as well as rise of several environmental agencies, both governmental as well as non-governmental agencies to champion the movements for environmental conservation. This was a milestone in the history of Theodore Roosevelt as a president of the United States. This shows that he was a reformer who had the agenda of bringing reforms to America as well as the world. Theodore Roosevelt also believed in social justice to all and fought for the right of all citizens. He was the first president to side with the labor union as well as push for consumer protection (Week, 5). This shows that Roosevelt understood the plights of laborers worldwide and therefore acted in the social good for the laborers, both in US and internationally. In this intervention, Theodore Roosevelt brought sanity in the labor sector worldwide through ensuring that consumers are protected as well as their rights observed and not compromise (Week, 5). This makes him be termed a true internationalist. Several countries emulated and adopted such interventions in their government structures in order to ensure that respect and justice is accorded to all. Woodrow Wilson as an internationalist (1913-1920) Wilson was an American president from the period of 1913 to 1920 and had several achievements during his tenure. He was a visionary leader as well as a reformer. He strongly believed in values of order, democracy, efficiency as well as social justice to all people worldwide. He also used his position in government, as well as the government as a tool to ensure the achievement of his missions and visions. During his tenure, the world was facing financial problems. However, his contributions led to Fed solving many financial problems (Week, 5). This was one of his major achievements. The impacts associated with offering solutions to such financial problems were felt worldwide. This follows that US was the major world economy. Therefore, any strain or relief to its financial problems had to be felt worldwide. This made Wilson be termed an internationalist. In this regard, being a decisive president, Wilson’s contributions saved America a great deal relevant to is departments and activities, both locally and internationally. Wilson believed in social justice. He fought for the rights of humanity in several ways. During his tenure, Wilson introduced 8 hour work per day (Week, 5). He also intervened further to ensure that the rights of laborers are considered by all the industries through authorization of National War Labor Board that was to effect such changes (Oakes et al, 671). This relieved the people of long hours of working that led to exhaustion. This was adopted by several countries worldwide thereby spreading the social relief to humanity worldwide. Wilson also fought for gender equality in America, an intervention that gained international acceptance and adoption (week 5). He was a reformer who fought for the rights of women and ensured that in the 19th Amendment, women were allowed to exercise their democratic rights to choose and elect their leaders through voting. This was adopted by many nations worldwide, thereby making Wilson be termed an internationalist. Franklin Roosevelt as an internationalist (1933-1945) Franklin Roosevelt was a United States President as well as an internationalist who tackled a great economic depression that affected the whole world. This contribution helped relieve the United States of the problem of failing institutions, banks as well as thousands of mortgages that were being closed at the time (Week, 8). This brought relief to the world economies as well as rejuvenated several sectors in all the nations of the world. Franklin was a visionary leader as well as a reformer who believed in the power of networking in order to bring solutions to the major world problems (Oakes et al, 743). Franklin was a pragmatic and a positive leader who contributed towards relief of CCC and WPA, as well as contributed towards recovery of AAA and NRA (Week, 8). Under his leadership, Franklin took US through World War II as well as the devastating world economic depression. Contributions of the presidents towards increasing US powers abroad The presidents were also termed internationalists relevant to their contributions towards increasing the United States influence and powers abroad. This was evident in the international interventions, mediations as well as contributions towards international problems including wars and conflicts. For instance, in 1914, Wilson Woodrow intervened in Mexico’s plight. He brought “missionary diplomacy” in Mexico during that time. Theodore Roosevelt also mediated in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905 and brought peace in those conflicts (Oakes et al, 613). This was a major international contribution. When WWI begun, United States declared neutrality. This was under the regime of President Woodrow Wilson in 1914. He offered mediation for the war in the year 1915 but in the year 1916, Germany gave a “Sussex Pledge.” The mediation offered by President Wilson failed in 1917, thereby making Wilson to declare “War for Democracy” as amongst the fourteen reasons to end the war (Oakes et al, 673). This was a great international contribution that saw America emerge victorious, thereby gaining international respect globally. Works Cited Oakes, James, et al. Of the People: A History of the United States, Concise, Volume II: Since 1865. New York, Oxford University Press, 2013. Class notes: Week 5-9. Read More