LAD/Blog #32: Wilson's 14 Points of Peace
Woodrow Wilson was very progressive. As such, when he saw the fighting in Europe, he felt motivated to ensure peace. The Fourteen Points of Peace are an extremely idealized vision for creating global peace. A lot of these points were utilized within the Treaty of Versailles. He envisioned a future after the War which was lenient towards the Germans and Austrians. He also called for open treaties, open seas, self governance for colonies, help for Russia, development of
Austria-Hungary, evacuation of Rumania, Serbia, and Montenegro, free trade, free
passage for all Turks in the Dardanelles, Belgian sovereignty, justice for France as it had been
mistreated in Alsace-Lorraine, fixing Italian borders, creation of a Polish nation,
and the creation of a League of Nations. The last point, calling for the League of Nations, was designed to ensure that the Great War was the last big war. By having a unifying body among countries, Wilson believed conflicts could be diffused without violence or war.
The League of Nations proposed in Wilson's last point is very similar to the UN which we have today. Though it doesn't have much power, it does move the world toward peace.
Comments
Post a Comment