Wilson and his Fourteen Points

Towards the end of the war, Wilson began to draft a statement of principles that would help bring peace in the world and prevent any wars in the future. Originally, Wilson had drafted this statement to end the current war that was prevailing between Germany and the Allies. Germany had agreed to stop the war if a treaty was formed based on the principles of the fourteen points. Wilson was glad, but the document had to be passed by Congress and had to be accepted by the British, French and Italians in order to form a treaty. he presented this to Congress as a solution for the future. He believed that these fourteen points would stop any wars, and bring the world closer to democracy. He described the WWI as "war to end all wars". 

What were the fourteen points about?

The first five were about international issues and concerns, mainly:

• Open diplomacy 
• Freedom of the seas 
• Removal of economic barriers 
• Reduction of armaments
• Adjustment of colonial claims. 

All of these points stopped nations from going to war, so that there would be no wars. 

The next eight dealt with territorial questions. They addressed these territorial disputes: 

• Conquered territories in Russia
• Restoration of Belgian sovereignty
• Redrawing of Italian frontiers
• Division of Austria-Hungary
• Redrawing of Balkan boundaries
• Limitations on Turkey
• Establishment of an independent Poland

These eight points, according to President Wilson, would end any boundary disputes and would satisfy all nations involved. 

The last point was about the League of Nations. This was a league that was proposed by Wilson, but later all nations but the U.S would join because the Senate had not approved of this document. The idea of the League of Nations was that all the nations that would join would have the duty of supporting each other when one was in danger. This would prevent other nations from attacking the League and anyone involved in it because they would have no support. 

Unfortunately, Congress didn't like the way that Wilson had taken the draft of the fourteen points to France without consulting them on it first. Later, when he would come back, he would find that Congress would do anything to oppose the US joining the League, and Wilson would not be able to fight back.