Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points - Essay Example

Success of Woodrow Wilson’s “Fourteen points” principles during the world war Introduction Woodrow Wilson is a former American president who served between the year 1913 and the year 1921. The First World War is one of the significant events that happened during his reign as the president of one of the world’s superpowers. He is particularly renowned for his fourteen points that developed a basis to the end of the war and the post World War I era. This paper explores the success Woodrow’s fourteen points and the points’ achievements.

Overview of Woodrow’s fourteen points Woodrow’s fourteen points was a proclamation towards the end of the First World War. Having come just a few months away from the ultimate end of the war and their provisions that aimed at attaining a peaceful world indicate significance of the points in the consequently achieved peace. The fourteen points’ principles can be explored in three categories. The first category, consisting of initial five points, was general and concerned “international liberalism and free trade” (Rossini and Shugaar, p. 63). The points included a public approach to agreements towards international peace as opposed to private treaties, provision for freedom of navigation across international waters, elimination of trade barriers and equality in international trade, and appeal for disarmament.

He also called for fair distribution of colonies (Yale, p. 1). Points that called for resolution of disputes over some territories followed these. Woodrow for example appealed for “restoration of Belgium, restitution of Alsace-Lorraine to France, creation of Poland,” and a change to Italian frontiers (Rossini and Shugaar, p. 63). The points also called for withdrawal of foreign forces from Serbia and Serbia’s access to international waters, and sovereignty of Turkish territory from the Ottoman rule.

The last point called for formation of an international movement, under a treaty, to ensure sovereignty of all nations (Yale, p.1). Success of the fourteen points during the war The fourteen points were immediately received with mixed reactions within the United States and outside the nation. The public was particularly receptive of the opinions and perceived their potential success. Political stakeholders however reported different opinions with some dismissing the suggestion while others expressed reservations due to their countries’ interest.

The points’ success was also pre-indicated by a positive reception that the president received in his international tours before the Versailles conference. The actual success was however realized in the conference that led to the formation of the international league. The treaty actually incorporate Woodrow’s general provisions for “territorial integrity and political independence” as was expressed in the second set of his points that called for countries’ autonomy (Crotright, p. 57).

The Versailles conference also provided for open conflict resolution through arbitration. Similarly, countries that joined the League agreed to disarm. The biggest success of the points was however, the formation of the League of Nations that would implement the other points (Crotright, 55-57). These identify success of Woodrow’s points during the war because they established mechanisms that would end the war, and eliminate international conflicts that were factors to the war. The points were also successful through their incorporation in the formed League of Nations towards the president’s objectives.

In their incorporation in the treaty, the points were successful because they won the support of the league members and were subsequently assimilated by the countries. This happened regardless of the initial opposition from international political leaders. The points’ implementation was also a success in the war because they are credited as a solution to the war. Provision for arbitration by the league for example outlawed war and the ongoing war was inclusive. Further provisions of the League for guidelines into war also ensured elimination of war as an option to member states.

Similarly, Woodrow’s call for retreat of forces from territories was successfully implemented (Yale, p. 1). Achievements of the points’ success A review of the proposed points and the resolutions of the Versailles conference into fundamentals of the League of Nation identify several achievements. The proposal for example secured an open approach to peace treaties that would be made through a formally approached arbitration. The president also successfully influenced the international community into agreement for disarmament and ensured removal of foreign forces from territories.

Independence of all nations was another success of the points as were agreed upon in the Versailles conference. The points also succeeded in securing the League of Nations as an international organization that would ensure peace and autonomy. Conclusion Woodrow’s fourteen points were a set of proposals, for international relation, in the wake of the First World War. The points provided for freedom of international movement and trade, sovereignty of all nations and formation of the League of Nations to ensure international integration.

The proposal was successful during the war because of the points’ successful implementation and the subsequent end of the war. Works cited Crotright, David. Peace: A history of movements and ideas. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2008. Print. Rossini, Daniela, and Shugaar, Antony. Woodrow Wilson and the American myth in Italy: Culture, diplomacy, and war propaganda. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2008. Print. Yale. “President Woodrow Wilson’s fourteen points.” Yale Law School. 2008. Web.

November 28, 2012. .