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America's involvement
in World War I was a difficult and divisive issue
for our Nation. President Wilson had struggled for
three years since the outbreak of hostilities in
August, 1914 to maintain a position of American
neutrality towards the European conflict. This
effort to distance our Nation from European affairs
was disturbed on May 7, 1915 when a German U-boat
sank the unarmed British liner Lusitania killing
more than 1,000 people including 128 Americans.
By 1917 it was
becoming increasingly apparent that American
neutrality could no longer be maintained. President
Wilson went before Congress to request a Declaration
of War with these words:
"The world must be made safe for
democracy. It is a fearful thing to
lead this great peaceful people into
war, the most terrible of wars. But
the right is more precious than the
peace, and we shall fight for the
things that we have always carried
nearest our hearts...for
democracy...for the rights and
liberties of small nations, for a
universal dominion of right by such
a concert of free peoples as shall
bring peace and safety to all
nations and make the world itself at
last free."
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President Wilson's view of the
United States as the stalwart of world democracy
wasn't shared by everyone, however. Six of the 96
U.S. Senators voted against the declaration of war.
The House of Representatives passed the resolution
April 6, 1917, but only after 13 hours of emotional
and heated debate. Forty-nine Congressmen and the
only Congresswoman (Helen Rankin of Montana), voted
against the declaration.
By mid-summer General John J. Pershing's American
Expeditionary Force was landing in Europe. But even
as Colonel Charles E. Stanton stood before the tomb
of Revolutionary War hero Marquis de Lafayette's
tomb in France to proclaim, "Lafayette, we are
here"; trouble was brewing at home. Congress' new
program of conscription under the Selective Service
Act was mandating registration for military service
by every American man between the ages of 21 and 30.
Not since the Civil War had an issue arisen to so
divide our Country.
 While
George M. Cohan wrote patriotic songs like "Over
There" (actually penned on April 6, the same day
Congress finally passed the Declaration of War),
other citizens began to protest American involvement
in "Europe's troubles" and the forced recruitment of
soldiers under the Selective Service Act. By the
summer of 1918 the war in Europe had forced the
Government to take control of industry, railroads,
and food and fuel production. Taxes were raised to
fund the war, postal rates went up, and censorship
of some mail was being officially conducted. In May
Congress passed the Sedition Act which allowed war
and draft protesters to be jailed. More than 2,000
Americans were already behind bars for interfering
with the draft, including one former United States
Congressman (Victor Berger of Wisconsin).
In the midst of all this domestic turmoil and
dissension, a Nation-wide essay contest was held to
develop an American's Creed. The winning entry was
submitted by William Tyler Page of Friendship
Heights, Maryland. Mr. Page was a descendent of
President John Tyler and former Congressman John
Page who served in the House of Representatives from
1789-1797. William Tyler Page himself had also
served in Congress - - as a Congressional Page in
1881. His winning essay established the American's
Creed with the following words:
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I believe in the United
States of America as a
Government of the People, by
the People, for the People;
whose just powers are
derived from the consent of
the governed; A democracy in
a republic, a sovereign
Nation of many Sovereign
States; a perfect Union, one
and inseparable; established
upon those principles of
Freedom, Equality, Justice,
and Humanity for which
American Patriots sacrificed
their Lives and Fortunes.
I therefore believe it is my
duty to my country to Love
it; to Support its
Constitution; to obey its
laws; to Respect its Flag;
and to defend it against all
enemies. |
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The American's Creed
defines what it means to be American, both the need
for FAITH in who and what we are as a Nation, and
the RESPONSIBILITY we all have to love and respect
our Nation and its Flag. Its message is appropriate
for each generation of Americans, but becomes even
more meaningful when we understand the historical
context of its origin...written during a time of
conflict and turmoil at home and abroad.
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