Final answer:
President Wilson asked Congress to endorse actions like promoting free trade, diplomacy, and disarmament, and to establish the League of Nations to prevent future conflicts. He justified these requests as moral imperatives and essential to supporting democracy and peace. However, opposition in Congress, especially regarding the League of Nations, resulted in the U.S. not joining the League.
Step-by-step explanation:
President Woodrow Wilson requested that Congress take several actions which he believed were justified to ensure global peace and security following World War I. Wilson's proposals included promoting free trade, open diplomacy, self-determination of peoples, and disarmament. Most notably, Wilson advocated for the creation of the League of Nations, an international organization designed to prevent future wars by providing a forum for nations to peacefully resolve conflicts. He argued that these actions were justified on the basis of moral imperatives and the American commitment to democracy and international stability.
Despite his endeavors to minimize American involvement in foreign affairs, the moral depravities of World War I and threats to free trade with allies swayed his stance, leading Wilson to believe the U.S. had a moral obligation to participate and shape the postwar world. He contended that America's engagement was principled, without desires for conquest, and aimed to foster a new era of diplomacy and democratic growth. His Fourteen Points speech to Congress encapsulated these ideals and called for Congressional support.
However, there was considerable opposition to Wilson's proposals, particularly the League of Nations, due to concerns over becoming entangled in European affairs and compromises on national sovereignty. This led to a conflict with conservative senators, notably Henry Cabot Lodge, and ultimately contributed to the U.S. Senate's refusal to ratify the Treaty of Versailles, excluding the United States from the League's membership.