Wilson's Fourteen Points
Wilson proposes his 14 points to Congress on January 8, 1918. Dealt with world peace after the war. Nine out of 14 points deal with self determination- right of people to govern themselves. various territorial disputes to be settled. causes of modern war to be prevented-secret diplomacy, arms race, violations of freedom of the seas and trade barriers. League of Nations to be set up.
Wilson instructs Congress what we should demand from this war The world should be made fit and safe to live in for all. The world’s program for peace is our program. The only just program for peace is my Fourteen Points.
Fourteen Points for a Just Peace
I. Open covenants of peace, openly arrived at, after which there shall be no private understandings of any kind, but diplomacy shall proceed always frankly in the public view. II. Absolute freedom of navigation upon the seas‌ alike in peace and war. III. Economic barriers should be removed and replaced with an equality of trading conditions.
IV. Adequate guarantees given and taken that national armaments be reduced to lowest point consistent with domestic safety V. Impartial adjustment of all colonial claims. VI. The evacuation of all Russian territory. VII. Belgium must be evacuated and restored VIII. Wrong done to France correctedAlsace-Lorraine restored
X. A redrawing of Italy’s frontier along clearly recognizable lines of nationality. XI. The people of Austria-Hungary should be assured autonomous development. XII. Serbia should be evacuated and accorded free access to the seas. Relations of Balkan states determined by friendly counsel. XIII. Turkish portions of Ottoman empire be assured a secure sovereignty.
The heart of Wilson’s Fourteen Points. XIV. A general association of nations must be formed under specific covenants for the purpose of affording mutual guarantee of political independence and territorial integrity to great and small states alike.
Make- up of League of Nations Location-Geneva permanent administrative staff assembly-every member gets one vote council-Great Britain, France, Japan, Italy, U.S.
Obstacles to acceptance of Wilson’s Fourteen points United States Senate makes treaties. Hard to get over Article 10 which required each member nation to preserve the independence of all other nations. “Return to normalcy” normalcy