Woodrow Wilson

The 14 PointsBy Kristine Delino

Woodrow Wilson•Born in 1856, was the 28th President of the United States, 1913-1921. •Woodrow Wilson grew up in Augusta, Georgia in a very strong Presbyterian household in which his father was a minister. •Prior to being elected President, he was a professor of History at several universities including Bryn Mawr, Wesleyan, and Princeton. • He served as President of Princeton from 1902 to 1910, after which he ran for governor of New Jersey. • In 1912, Woodrow Wilson ran on the democratic ticket for President.•He promised reform which led to his domestic progressive policies, later known as the New Freedom. •He believed that people had the right to choose their own government.

Continued..•Wilson was re-elected in 1916 based on the fact that he had kept the United States out of War. •He tried to stay neutral and out of the war. •Was known for being a very neutral person•April 2, 1917, after a series of attacks on American ships and Germany’s unwillingness to back down, the United States declared war on Germany. •He was an idealist•Wilson saw America as leading the world.

Meaning of the 14 Points

• Woodrow Wilson believed in peace, democracy and individual rights.

• Outlined the fourteen elements which Wilson believed were essential to a lasting peace.

• The purpose of the speech was really to legitimize morally our participation and role in the war.

• “Peace without Victory”• The basis for a democratic society was morality and

ethics.• Wanted America to “lead” world peace rather than rule it.

Within the 14 Points• Eight deal with geopolitical issues that would have to be resolved after the war.1. Russia - should be allowed to operate whatever government it wanted 2. Belgium - should be evacuated and restored to the situation before the war. 3. France - should have Alsace-Lorraine and any lands taken away during the war restored. 4. Italy - The Italian border should be readjusted according to nationality 5. National Self -Determination - The national groups in Europe should be given their independence. 6. Romania, Montenegro and Serbia - Should be evacuated and Serbia should have an outlet to the

sea 7. Turkey - The people of Turkey should have a say in their future 8. Poland - Poland should become an independent state with an outlet to the sea • The remaining six dealt with general ideology. These were the most important. 1. Freedom of the seas2. An end to secret treaties and negotiations 3. Establishing equal and free trade4. Arms reduction 5. Granting self-government to the peoples in Central Europe6. League of Nations

Effects• Initially Germany did not respond positively,

but within ten months they had backed down and appealed to Wilson to begin peace talks based on the fourteen points.

• Opposition from allies: the British were against freedom of the seas; the French demanded war retributions

• By the time the Treaty of Versailles was signed only some of the principles were upheld. One of these was the development of the League of Nations. Because of the weakness of the treaty, Wilson could not even get the United States to ratify it.

• Germany was able to return to its imperialistic ways.

Works CitedIkenberry, J.G, Knock, T.J., Slaughter, A., Smith, T., “The Crisis of American Foreign Policy, Wilsoniasm in The Twenty First Century”., Princeton, N.J., Princeton University Press, Princeton, N.J.,2009, October 2, 2009. “Volume Library”, Southwestern/Great American Inc., Nashville Tennessee, 2001. “Woodrow Wilson”, Fighting for Peace: 1918http://www.sparknotes.com/biography/wilson/section7.rhtml “Wilson, Woodrow”, The Oxford Companion to American Military History, John Whitely Chambers, 2000.http://www.angelfire.com/in3/wilson/future.html