President Wilson’s Missionary Diplomacy

Woodrow Wilson’s Missionary Diplomacy was basically devised to discredit and take away recognition from states (nations) who expressed conflictual arguments with the United States.  By the United States’ “good will” and “morality”, these “missionary”-esque tasks were supposedly in order of improving the lots of developing nations.  Although not limited to Latin American countries by any means, the reaches of Missionary Diplomacy engulfed this part of the world.  Because of its geographic relationship to North America, Wilson and the United States actively sought a positive relationship, albeit an at times paternal one.

In Mexico, Wilson sought to set things right concerning a revolutionario named Juan O’ Gorman, who was made leader by his people and was then murdered.  His murderer, Victoriano Huerta, was actually one of his top officials.  Huerta seized power and refused to step down as requested by the United States.  During this time, the Zimmerman Telegram was discovered, which told of Germany’s plans to convince Mexico to attack the United States to recover “lost lands” in New Mexico, Texas and elsewhere.  Wilson’s response to this was to get involved militarily.  After killing many, the army returned and Wilson endorsed his next leader of Mexico: Pancho Villa.  Pancho turned out to be just as crazy as Huerta, if not more so!  Long story short:  Wilson had to give up without the wild Villa in his possession.

The Cold War’s effects on American Society

Although the Cold War had far-reaching effects on American society, they were largely superficial when compared to the impacts of other wars of American History.  The Cold War’s homefront efforts consisted of establishing further national security measures against aerial threats, which were fast becoming popular weapons of choice because of extensive Soviet/U.S. competition in rocket building programs.  Likely, a number of Americans remained active in the military long after previous conflicts to ultimately assimilate into Cold War orders.  Interestingly enough, the Cold War should be given credit in that it was responsible for some really great achievements by both the Soviets and the United States.  The two countries pushed eachother to extremes to confront theological adversity in the name of conceptual idealism.  To end things on a lighter note, the Olympics enjoyed a warm spotlight once again, in part thanks to the nationalist tendencies of the institutions of the Cold War.  Sports from the beginning of the Cold War played an important role in National pride.  An interesting film that depicts some post-Cold War sentiments is Rocky IV, check that out!  I recently went to the Albin Polasek Museum in Winter Park, Florida, where they had a full gallery of communist art from the Cold War.  History is truly everywhere!

Harding’s “Normalcy”

The term normal is one that is particularly arbitrary.  It is subject to change indefinitely upon how it is used and who chooses to use it.  This was the source of controversy associated with President Harding’s use of the word “normalcy”.

Harding’s easy to get along with nature extends the likelihood that making such a statement had little to do with bruising legislation of respective recent pasts.  In spite of his unique wording, President Harding sought to use this slogan as a means of expressing his wishes if he was granted presidential office.

His “normalcy” became defined as a time when the country would exchange a legacy of war for an era of prosperity and of national uncertainties ranging from economic issues to quality of for urban dwellers upon streets of squallier.

I think that his ambitions told of a need for reform, rather than “progress”, as it was then defined.  Without fixing unresolved internal issues and international ones alike when chances present themselves, they are likely to continue to snowball, small or large.