The 14 Points by President Woodrow Wilson

Background

• Delivered on January 8, 1918 by President Woodrow Wilson.
• Aimed to end World War I and secure world peace.
• Initially, Wilson followed a policy of neutrality when WWI began in 1914.
• Factors leading to U.S. involvement:
  • Zimmermann Telegram in January 1917: Germany asked Mexico to ally against the U.S.
  • Unrestricted submarine warfare by Germany, sinking ships with U.S. citizens.
  • The sinking of the Lusitania in 1915, killing 128 Americans, was a major catalyst.
• April 2, 1917: Wilson requests Congress to declare war on Germany; war declared on April 4.

The 14 Points Overview

• Developed with Colonel Edward M. House and a group of 150 political and social scientists.
• Aimed to address causes of WWI and propose solutions for future peace.

Key Points

1. Territorial Adjustments

   • Eight points addressed resolving territorial disputes.
   • Focused on securing borders and statehood for Italy, Ottoman Empire's Turkish part, Poland, and Austria-Hungary.

2. General Principles for Peace

   • Five points covered:
     • Open treaties and agreements.
     • Freedom of the seas.
     • Free trade.
     • Reduction of armaments.
     • Adjustment of colonial claims based on self-determination.

3. 14th Point

   • Proposed the creation of an international alliance to ensure political independence and territorial integrity for all nations.
   • Led to the establishment of the League of Nations.

Implementation and Impact

• Most points were not fully realized or integrated into the Treaty of Versailles.
• Allies were more interested in punishing Germany than Wilson's idealistic vision.
• The 14th point led to the creation of the League of Nations.

Aftermath

• Despite Wilson's campaign, the U.S. did not join the League of Nations.
• Wilson predicted another world war due to the lack of U.S. participation, which came true with WWII.