Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Semester of Degree Completion

1985

Thesis Director

Raymond L. Koch

Abstract

William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925) was Secretary of State for the first two years of the administration of Woodrow Wilson, from 1913 to 1915. During that time he sought to implement his views of diplomacy which were based upon his political and religious beliefs. His emergence on the national political scene in 1896 had been based upon his commitment to the welfare of common man which was inherent in his espousal of Populist principles. As Secretary of State he promoted policies, especially in Latin America, designed to advance the democratic form of government, which he believed best served the interests of common man. His commitment to Christianity was always a factor in his life, but it was especially important after 1900, when he merged morality and his advocacy of various political issues, including world peace. He believed international peace was attainable if men would attempt to solve differences in the spirit of goodwill and brotherhood. When a potential conflict with Japan developed in 1913, he applied his ideas regarding the practicability of attaining peace through goodwill by his personal diplomacy with that nation's ambassador to the United States. He considered his most important work as Secretary of State to be his effort to make international peace attainable by establishing peace treaties which would develop a process of conciliation between the United States and the other signatory nations.

Bryan, after the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, continually sought opportunities to end the conflict. He hoped to help restore peace and prevent the United States from becoming involved in the conflict. To attain the latter objective, he wanted American citizens traveling on belligerent ships in the war zone to be warned to do so at their own risk, but Wilson absolutely refused to do this. After the British liner Lusitania was sunk in May 1915 with the loss of more than one hundred American lives, Bryan worked hard to gain acceptance of policies he felt necessary to prevent the nation from becoming involved in the war. When it became obvious his views would not be accepted, he resigned in June 1915 rather than sign the second Lusitania note, which he was convinced would lead to involvement in the war. Afterward he continued to work to prevent the nation from becoming involved in the war, but when Congress declared war in April 1917, Bryan immediately gave it his support.

Following the war Bryan supported America's entry into the League of Nations believing that organization provided a way to prevent future wars. In the 1920's he actively opposed the teaching of Darwin's theory of evolution in schools supported by state funds because he felt this led to a questioning of religious truths which in turn was destructive of morality, political reform and ultimately would threaten civilization itself. Bryan, who above all desired to be regarded as a Christian statesman, sought to bring Christian morality into the international arena, but in the end, as Secretary of State he essentially continued the policies of his predecessors.

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