Woodrow Wilson’s 14 PointsWoodrow Wilson’s 14 Points

14 Points listed in 14 Points listed in Speech Speech Given Given to Congress Jan. 1918to Congress Jan. 1918

10 Months Before 10 Months Before Armistice Armistice

IdealismIdealism gives gives Wilson moral Wilson moral leadershipleadership

Wilson’s ideas for Wilson’s ideas for lasting peace in lasting peace in EuropeEurope

Background of this speechBackground of this speechThe only honest statement of war The only honest statement of war

aims by a fighting country. Ulterior aims by a fighting country. Ulterior motives for France and Britain.motives for France and Britain.

Based on Wilson’s progressive ideas Based on Wilson’s progressive ideas of free trade, of free trade, self-determinationself-determination, , and democracy.and democracy.

3 Main Parts of the Speech3 Main Parts of the SpeechPoints 1-5Points 1-5

Eliminate the Cause of War and International Eliminate the Cause of War and International RelationsRelations

1. No more secret treaties – 1. No more secret treaties – response to Leninresponse to Lenin

2. Freedom of the seas (During War-2. Freedom of the seas (During War-Time) Time)

3. Free trade (Create equal trading 3. Free trade (Create equal trading conditionsconditions

Points 6-13Points 6-13(Right of National Self-Determination and Territorial (Right of National Self-Determination and Territorial

Claims)Claims)6. Germany withdraws from occupied 6. Germany withdraws from occupied

RussiaRussia

8. France had lost Alsace-Lorraine during 8. France had lost Alsace-Lorraine during 1870-71 war, now France gets it back.1870-71 war, now France gets it back.

Ottoman empire is divided and placed in Ottoman empire is divided and placed in League of Nation trust (Palestine, League of Nation trust (Palestine, Mesopotamia, and Syria)Mesopotamia, and Syria)

Point 14Point 14(most important to Pres. Wilson)(most important to Pres. Wilson)

A general association of nations to A general association of nations to enforce peace, this foreshadows the enforce peace, this foreshadows the League of Nations.League of Nations.

(And after WWII the United Nations.)(And after WWII the United Nations.)

Wilson the Wilson the IdealistIdealist? ? Speech contained high idealsSpeech contained high ideals

It is not so much about self-interest It is not so much about self-interest as world interest.as world interest.

Or is it Or is it Propaganda?Propaganda? A way to A way to encourage Germany to surrender encourage Germany to surrender without losing too much.without losing too much.

Opposition to the 14 PointsOpposition to the 14 PointsGermany surrender on the basis of the 14 Germany surrender on the basis of the 14

pts.pts.Wilson consults no allies in Europe before Wilson consults no allies in Europe before

giving the speech – France and Britain giving the speech – France and Britain will make additions to 14 pts.will make additions to 14 pts.

British were against freedom of seas.British were against freedom of seas.

French wanted French wanted Reparations.Reparations.

14 Points Speech Leads to 14 Points Speech Leads to Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles

FranceFrance United KingdomUnited Kingdom United StatesUnited States ItalyItaly JapanJapan BelgiumBelgium BrazilBrazil CanadaCanada AustraliaAustralia New ZealandNew Zealand New FoundlandNew Foundland GreeceGreece GuatemalaGuatemala HaitiHaiti

HondurasHonduras ChinaChina CubaCuba YugoslaviaYugoslavia LiberiaLiberia NicaraguaNicaragua PanamaPanama PolandPoland PortugalPortugal RomaniaRomania SiamSiam CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakiaNote: What countriesNote: What countriesare not in attendance?are not in attendance?

Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles The treaty that The treaty that

ended WWIended WWI

The Big 4The Big 4 U.S.A., France, U.S.A., France,

United Kingdom, United Kingdom, ItalyItaly

Vs. GermanyVs. Germany

France Wants German France Wants German “Blood”.“Blood”.

Article 231 of the Article 231 of the Treaty holds Treaty holds Germany solely Germany solely responsible for the responsible for the war. (War Guilt war. (War Guilt Clause)Clause)

ReparationsReparations = = $32 Billion / Paid $32 Billion / Paid until Oct. 4, 2010until Oct. 4, 2010

Treaty of Versailles Humiliates Treaty of Versailles Humiliates GermanyGermany

Germans don’t believe they should have Germans don’t believe they should have to accept responsibility for the warto accept responsibility for the war

High High ReparationsReparations and war losses lead and war losses lead to economic problems.to economic problems.

Loss of colonial holdings and industry Loss of colonial holdings and industry leads to economic problemsleads to economic problems

Germany loses landGermany loses land

Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of VersaillesAmerica America nevernever signs treaty – Senate signs treaty – Senate

would not confirmwould not confirm- People felt the League of Nations People felt the League of Nations

would force America into agreements would force America into agreements not in best interestnot in best interest

- German-Americans felt punishment German-Americans felt punishment was harshwas harsh

Germany’s Humiliation leads Germany’s Humiliation leads to….to….

The end of the The end of the German government German government in 1933.in 1933.

And the rise of a And the rise of a new government…..new government…..

Adolph Hitler Adolph Hitler resolves to overturn resolves to overturn the Treatythe Treaty

Hitlers SpeechHitlers Speech19231923

““He who will not be a hammer must be He who will not be a hammer must be an anvil. An anvil we are today, and an anvil. An anvil we are today, and that anvil will be beaten until out of the that anvil will be beaten until out of the anvil we fashion once more a hammer, a anvil we fashion once more a hammer, a German sword.”German sword.”

In the End….In the End….Germany begins to rebuild looking Germany begins to rebuild looking

for revengefor revengeFrance believes it is going to get France believes it is going to get

revengerevengeEngland wants a stronger Germany England wants a stronger Germany

to balance Franceto balance FranceU.S.A. wants lasting peace.U.S.A. wants lasting peace.

Nobody gets what they want!Nobody gets what they want!

Peace is a FailurePeace is a FailureThe harsh terms encouraged by The harsh terms encouraged by

France Result in WWIIFrance Result in WWII

U.S. Senate fails to ratify Treaty of U.S. Senate fails to ratify Treaty of Versailles (separate peace is made)Versailles (separate peace is made)

League of Nations takes shape w/o League of Nations takes shape w/o U.S.A.U.S.A.