Wilson’s Fourteen PointsTO END ALL WARS

On January 8, 1918, President Woodrow Wilson went before Congress to explain his war aims.

Although the war was still raging, he stated an ambitious program to make the world “fit and

safe to live in.” He called his blueprint for peace the Fourteen

Points.

End Causes of War

The 1st goal of Wilson’s peace plan was to eliminate the causes of wars.

Self-Determination

A 2nd goal was to ensure the right to self-determination for ethnic groups so they could control their own political

futures.

Street in Paris, France

League of Nations

The last goal called for setting up an international organization called the League of Nations to ensure world peace.

Member nations would agree to protect one another’s independence and territorial integrity.

Territorial Integrity Under the principle of territorial integrity, nations respect one

another’s borders and do not try to gain another country’s territory by force.

Fourteen Points 1

Point One- Countries would not make secret treaties and alliances.

Secret alliances had been a cause of WW I.

The Abolition of Secret Treaties Secret treaties were common before the First World War, and many blamed them for helping spark the conflict.

Fourteen Points 2 Ships would be able to travel freely in times of war.

U-boat attacks on shipping had drawn the United States into WWI.

Absolute freedom of navigation upon the seas,The freedom of the seas allowed for freedom of navigation outside territorial waters at times of war and peace, but also allowed for total and partial blockades "for the enforcement of international covenants." This proposal was opposed in particular by the United Kingdom.

Fourteen Points 3 Free trade among countries would promote economic growth

and reduce trade conflicts that could draw nations into war.

The removal, so far as possible, of all economic barriers and the establishment of an equality of trade conditions

Free trade provided for the removal of economic barriers between peaceful nations, also called for the introduction of equality in trading conditions.

Fourteen Points 4 Countries would reduce their stockpiles of weapons.

Militarism had been a cause of WW I.

Disarmament "to the lowest point consistent with domestic safety.“

Adequate guarantees given and taken that national armaments will be reduced to the lowest point consistent with domestic safety.

Fourteen Points 5

The desires of colonial peoples would be taken into consideration in creating a more peaceful

world. Imperialism and competition for colonies had

been a cause of WW I. free, open-minded, and absolutely impartial

adjustment of all colonial claims, based upon a strict observance of the principle that in determining all such questions of sovereignty the interests of the populations concerned must have equal weight with the equitable claims of the government whose title is to be determined

Fourteen Points 6-13 Points six through thirteen were more specific,

dealing with the situation of specific countries: Restoring land taken from countries by war would

restore respect for international law. Redrawing borders on the basis of self-

determination would reduce conflicts among ethnic groups.

Wilson’s 14 PointsIx. A readjustment of the frontiers of italy should be effected along

clearly recognizable lines of nationality.

X. The peoples of austria-hungary, whose place among the nations we wish to see safeguarded and assured, should be accorded the freest opportunity to autonomous development.

Wilson’s 14 PointsXi. Romania, serbia, and montenegro should be evacuated;

occupied territories restored; serbia accorded free and secure access to the sea; and the relations of the several balkan states to one another determined by friendly counsel along historically established lines of allegiance and nationality;

XII. The turkish portion of the present ottoman empire should be assured a secure sovereignty, but the other nationalities which are now under turkish rule should be assured an undoubted security of life and an absolutely unmolested opportunity of autonomous development, and the dardanelles should be permanently opened as a free passage to the ships and commerce of all nations under international guarantees.

Wilson’s 14 PointsXiii. An independent polish state should be erected which should

include the territories inhabited by indisputably polish populations, which should be assured a free and secure access to the sea, and whose political and economic independence and territorial integrity should be guaranteed by international covenant.

Xiv. A general association of nations must be formed under specific covenants for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity to great and small states alike.

Wilson’s 14 PointsIn the end, only 4 of wilson’s 14 points were adopted after the war, and

the united states refused to ratify the treaty of versailles.

Wilson was awarded the nobel peace prize in 1919.

Fourteen Points 14

Countries would work together in the League of Nations to resolve conflicts before those conflicts escalated into war.

The Treaty of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles negotiated in Paris redrew the map of Europe, granting self-

determination to some groups. Some Allies sought revenge on Germany,

insisting on a war-guilt clause and reparations from Germany.

The Big Four

When the heads of the 4 major Allies- France, Great Britain, Italy, and the United States (The Big Four) – met in Paris for

peace talks, they were more focused on self-interest than on Wilson’s plan.

Wilson’s Plan Crumbles

France was concerned with security. France hoped to weaken Germany to the point that it could never threaten France

again by greatly reducing its army.

“Hang the Kaiser”

Lloyd George of England, insisted that Germany accept responsibility for starting

the war by inclusion of the war-guilt clause. The treaty required Germany to pay $33

billion in reparations to the Allies.

Reparations

Reparations are payments demanded of a defeated nation by the victor in a war to

offset the cost of the war. Germans resented both the war-guilt clause

and reparations, fearing that the payments would cripple their economic recovery.

Wilson Compromises

The other countries had lost many lives and property, and they expected compensation.

The Allies had borrowed huge sums form American banks to finance the war. They

hoped to repay these debts with reparations from Germany.

Wilson reluctantly agreed to the harsh treatment of Germany.

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Dividing the Spoils Parts of Germany were given to France,

Poland, Denmark, and Belgium, with little thought about the desires of the people

living there. Britain, France, Italy, and Japan grabbed German colonies in China, the Pacific, and

Africa.

League of Nations Charter Wilson hoped that including the League of Nations in the final treaty would make up for

his compromises on other issues. He believed that by providing collective security and a framework for peaceful talks,

the League would fix many problems the treaty had created.

Collective Security

Wilson believed that the League would maintain peace by providing collective

security for its members. Collective security is a commitment by many countries to join together to deal with

a nation that threatens peace.

Ratifying the Versailles Treaty Wilson required a 2/3 majority vote from the U.S. Senate to

ratify the treaty.

Opposition

Reservationists, such as Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, were concerned with Article 10 of the League’s

charter. This article focused on collective security. It required member nations to work together, and

even supply troops, to keep peace. Reservationists feared this would draw the U.S. into

wars without approval from Congress.

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Taking It to the People President Wilson decides to gain public support directly by

planning a nationwide speaking tour.

Wilson’s Tour The president embarked on a 8,000–mile speaking tour of the West. He spoke up to 4

times a day. On September 25, 1919, the president

collapses in Pueblo, Colorado. His doctor stopped the tour, and Wilson’s

train sped back to Washington D.C.

Assistant President –1st American Woman President ?

A few days after returning to the White House, Wilson has a major stroke that leaves

him paralyzed (dying months later.) Wilson’s wife, Edith, is called the “assistant president,” for making decisions on behalf of

her husband.

President Wilson’s FuneralFirst Lady Edith Wilson

Partisanship defeats the Treaty

In the end, Partisan politics and Wilson’s refusal to compromise led to the treaty’s rejection and ended Wilson’s hopes for U.S. membership in the League of Nations.

Inflation and Unemployment

Issues closer to home occupy most American concerns, including inflation and

unemployment.

The Big Question ?

Could World War II have been avoided if the U.S. had joined the League of Nations ?