Wilson's Last Efforts

Yesterday in class we learned about President Wilson's last attempts to get the United States to join the League of Nations. After months of trying to get it to work, Wilson became very sick. His personality shifted from working together with others and making a combined effort to refusing to compromise and believing he was always right. The Republicans would not compromise on the treaty either, leaving them in a stalemate. Realizing he could not win the Senate over, Wilson decided to go on a speaking tour to raise public support for the treaty. Even though he was still sick and his wife and doctor advised him not to go, he went anyway. After a speech in Colorado, his condition became worse and they had to rush him back to the capital. When they arrived, they found that he had suffered a big stroke and the left side of his body was paralyzed. His wife and doctor hid this for months, saying he had nervous indigestion so he could stay president. His wife made most of his decisions, which led to there being no advances on the treaty. In the end, the treaty was not ratified, and Wilson's dream faded away.