Woodrow Wilson's Role in the Peace Process
Paris Peace Conference, 1919 - Woodrow Wilson was part of the negotiations. He made his famous Fourteen Points address on January 8, 1918 and introduced the idea of a League of Nations. This organization's goal was to help preserve territories and political independence for large and small nations.
The Fourteen Points was the means to ending the war and achieving peace for all nations. He spent six months in Paris for the Peace Conference. He was the first U.S. president to travel to Europe while in office. For his peace-making efforts, Wilson was awarded the 1919 Nobel Peace Prize.
Fourteen Points
The Fourteen Points was the means to ending the war and achieving peace for all nations. He spent six months in Paris for the Peace Conference. He was the first U.S. president to travel to Europe while in office. For his peace-making efforts, Wilson was awarded the 1919 Nobel Peace Prize.
Fourteen Points
- Reliance on open diplomacy rather than secret agreements.
- Freedom of the seas.
- Free trade.
- Disarmament.
- Assistance for Russia.
- Respect Belgium.
- Restore French territories.
- Adjust the border of Italy.
- Self govern for Austria-Hungary.
- Guarantees for the independence of the various Balkan states.
- Independence for Poland.
- The formation of a League of Nations for independence for all countries, large and small.
Treaty of Versailles - peace settlement signed after WWI at the Versilles Palace near Paris
- Germany was blamed and made to pay reparations.
- League of Nations was created.
- Nations kept colonies and made new nations without the blessings of their people.
- Wanted to work on America and keep have little input in Europe.
- The Treaty was opposed by the majority. Wilson campaigned in support of the Treaty. He gave 37 speeches in 29 cities in three weeks. His health had been getting worse and the the trip was too much. He was rushed back to Washington and had a stroke a few days later. For the next year and a half he couldn't run the government but his wife and closest advisors protected him.
- The United States did not ratify the Treaty of Versailles and we did not join the League of Nations. This was a failure for Wilson and it bothered him until he died.