Wilson's 14 point speech ( readings and respond ) - Essay Example

Insert Introduction United s President Woodrow Wilson gave a ment on January 8, 1918 to declare that World War I was being waged for a moral reason and to call for a postwar peace in Europe and the world. This speech is what came to be known as the Fourteen Points and it was first delivered to the American Congress. The Primary Purpose of Wilsons 14 Points As an idealist, Wilson thought that his Fourteen Points would bring a fair peace at the end of World War I and bring about a better world free from wars.

Therefore, the main purpose of the Fourteen Points was to bring an end to World War I in a fair manner to both Axis Powers and Allies and to lay ground for a better world, free from future wars (Ambrosius, 257-58). A critical look at the Fourteen Points also reveals the intent to make Germany accountable for the ravages of World War I, as a way of establishing peace in Europe. Particularly, in the sixth point, Germany was to remove her army from Russia, and Russia was to be accorded the independence, sovereignty and autonomy to begin and nurture her political and economic set-up.

Again, in the eighth point, France was to be accorded full liberation and the chance to recover Alsace-Lorraine. While this was a strong boost to France, it was a heavy blow to Germany as Alsace-Lorraine had been under the control of Germany. Some of the points were adopted by the international community [particularly in the Treaty of Versailles], while others were discarded. Works CitedAmbrosius, E. Lloyd. “Woodrow Wilson.” The Journal of American History, 92.1 (2005): 257 – 258. Print