President Woodrow Wilson, who campaigned on keeping the US out of WWI, signed a declaration of war against Germany in 1917. He later presented his postwar peace plan, known as the Fourteen Points, which included open diplomacy, free trade, disarmament, and redrawing of borders. The final point called for an international association of nations, which led to the creation of the League of Nations. Wilson’s Fourteen Points are still studied in American political thought and international relations.
President Woodrow Wilson was elected to a second term as president of the United States in 1916 under the campaign slogan, “He kept us out of war.” After facilitating an unsuccessful peace settlement between the Allied and Central Powers of World War I, Wilson signed the declaration of war against Germany on April 6, 1917, which threatened unrestricted submarine warfare in February 1917.
To promote peace after World War I and boost morale among the citizens of the United States, Wilson addressed a joint session of Congress on January 8, 1918. This address is essentially a postwar peace plan, historically referred to as the speech of Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points. The first five points of the speech provided general guidelines and the rest of Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points were specific issues that needed to be resolved at the end of the war.
The first of Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points was in reference to the era of covert diplomacy taking place in Europe. Wilson called for open alliances and treaties between countries. This transparency would allow accountability for all international understandings.
The second and third points of Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points refer to the freedom of the seas and free trade. Wilson said that all countries should have complete freedom in the seas outside territorial waters and this should only be changed by international agreement. Wilson argued that all economic barriers should be removed and free trade should be allowed between peaceful countries.
Points four and five require peaceful nation-states to relinquish power. In point four, Wilson announces that all peaceful nations must disarm and have sufficient weapons only for internal security. Point five requires that nations of an imperialist nature reject all colonial claims and work together with the interests of their colonial populations.
Points six, seven and eight of Woodrow Wilson’s fourteen points call for Russia, Belgium and France to be evacuated and restored where necessary. Particular emphasis is given to Russia. Wilson argues that they must be given a chance to demonstrate good behavior and goodwill as a free nation.
The next three points address the issue of redrawing borders that have been changed due to the First World War. Wilson ascertains that Italy, Austria-Hungary and the Balkans should have their territories evacuated, restored and redrawn along nationality lines. Points twelve and thirteen ask for the independence and sovereignty of Turkey and Poland.
The final point of Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points calls for an international association of nations that listens to the voices of all nations. Due to this point, the League of Nations was created, which was later dismantled and the United Nations was formed.
Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points is taught to students of American political thought and international relations. Wilson is considered to have contributed to American views on foreign policy liberalism.
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