Wilson's Fourteen Points became the basis of the Treaty of Versailles, which was an agreement in 1919

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        World War I was one of the greatest and most brutal wars known to mankind.  “The total deaths of all nations who fought in the war are thought to have been 8.5 million with 21 million being wounded,” (#8, pg 1).  Due to the death of so many casualties, action was necessary to stop the war.  Two main actions taken during this time were Wilson’s Fourteen Points and the Treaty of Versailles.  President Woodrow Wilson was clearly the dominant figure in creating a peace agreement between the Allies and Central Powers.  Wilson’s Fourteen Points became the basis of the Treaty of Versailles, which was an agreement in 1919 ending World War I.  With the creation of the Fourteen Points and the Treaty of Versailles came many good and bad aspects for the Allies and Central powers.  Upon Europe agreeing and signing the Treaty of Versailles, many changes occurred, which ultimately decided the next two decades.      

        Wilson’s Fourteen Points was one of Wilson’s ways in becoming a peacemaker for the Allies and the Central powers.  “President Wilson had believed it was the duty of the United States to bring peace to the world,” (#10, pg87).  Already with several unsuccessful attempts to convince the two sides to stop fighting; Wilson made another plea on January 18, 1918 (#10, pg87).  In his plea Wilson outlined a plan for a lasting peace to Congress, that later became known as the Fourteen Points (#10, pg87).  In this speech were statements, “of long-range objectives,” which were to be, “occasioned by short-range needs” (#5, pg127). Within his Fourteen Points, Wilson insisted, “Open covenants of peace, openly arrived at, after which there shall be no private international understandings of any kind but diplomacy shall proceed always frankly and in the public view,” (#7, pg1).  Wilson thought that there should be an end to the secret agreements among nations, which was the process that started the war in the beginning.  The Fourteen Points also demanded freedom of seas, no trade barriers, and a reduction of arms by all countries.  Wilson’s final and most daring point stated that he believed in, “A general association of nations must be formed under specific covenants for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity to great and small states alike,” (#7, pg2).  In other words, Wilson wanted to create a League of Nations to prevent future wars and to assure the political and territorial independence of all states.  Then later on February 11th, Wilson added another four points to the Fourteen Points; most importantly, being self-determination.  “This meant that more powerful nations should not be allowed to rule weaker countries or groups of people against their wishes,” (#10, pg88).  The Fourteen Points laid the groundwork for the Treaty of Versailles.  

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        “The Treaty of Versailles was the peace settlement signed after World War I had ended in 1918,” (#8, pg1).  “It was based on an agreement made between the Allied Nations, influenced by Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points… The treaty was signed on June 28, 1919 in Versailles, France.  It took effect on January 10, 1920, after being ratified by France, Italy, Japan, Great Britain and Germany,” (#9, pg1).  However, before all that had happened, the Paris Peace Conference was the first step in establishing peace between both the Allies and the Central Powers.  “Wilson was determined to lead the American peace ...

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