THE FOURTEEN POINTS

Running head: THE FOURTEEN POINTS
The Fourteen Points
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Introduction
The historical dialogs constitute a lot of implication for the individuals of the present
world order in order to understand the structuring of the world and its validation. The nature of
the world as it can be perceived today, owes its contribution to the time period after the end of
the Second World War (Matei 2018). The outbreak of the two of the most devastating wars in the
history of mankind, led the leaders of the world reach the conclusion that there was a necessity to
institute a world platform which would ensure the pervasiveness of peace and harmony in the
society. In this context, one of the most empowering speeches was made in the year of 1918, by
the then President of the United States of America, known as Woodrow Wilson (Cox 2018). The
purpose of this paper is to understand the historical back ground of this speech in the light of the
contents of the speech itself. In this context, the significance of the speech has also been looked
in to in the course of the paper.
Discussion
The speech on the Fourteen Points which was given by the then President of the United
States of America on 8th January, 1918, was an ardent attempt by the President to help establish
peace and harmony in the world (Throntveit 2017). He wanted all the state leaders to participate
in a concerted process whereby they would all come together to ensure the well-being of their
own citizens. In this context, many historians and scholars have looked at the document of the
Fourteen Points as a peace negotiations doctrine (Knock 2019).
The Fourteen Points is seen in the light of a statement of principles outlining the need for
peace and security (Wilson 1918). It was a vision of the then President of the United States of
America, Woodrow Wilson (Hankins 2018). Through this speech, Wilson directly referred to all

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those issues which, he believed, were the primary causes of the war (Wilson 1918). The First
World War was indeed disturbing for the entire world as it was, for the first time, when almost
the entire world was pulled in to a conflict based on their ideological differences (Inoguchi
2018). The adverse impact on the lives of the people and their properties was overwhelming. In
this back ground, President Wilson gave the speech on the Fourteen Points.
In his speech, he urged the world leaders not to make any more secret treaties or
agreements (Deniz 2018). The countries should, in an open and translucent manner, reach a
friendly consensus with their enemies on how to best resolve a particular issue or problem
(Wilson 1918). Furthermore, there was an immediate need to reduce the number of arms and
ammunitions which were controlled by each nation state (Link 2018). Armaments were only a
sign of violence and tempted even the best of the individuals to take recourse to a bloodbath in
order to resolve problem in a faster manner. Thus, President Wilson felt that the reduction in
armaments would act as a safeguard against such an evil inducement (Wilson 1918).
Furthermore, the importance of the speech on the Fourteen Points lies in the fact that it
recognized the evils and obstacles posed by the colonial ideology of the imperial masters
(Dodsworth 2018). The advanced nation countries of the western hemisphere wanted to expand
their base of operations of the economic market in order to earn a higher profit margin (Wilson
1918). They discovered that the only way to bring about this achievement is through the
colonization of the markets available in the under developed and the developing countries of the
eastern and southern hemisphere of the world (Trani, and Davis 2017). Such countries were yet
to utilize their natural resources in an optimum manner and they did not have a readily formed
market in the first place. One of the factors which worked in favor of the western powers is that
the under developed and developing countries did not have a civilization as of yet. They were

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largely divided within themselves and had many internal conflicts. This was exploited by the
imperial masters who found it considerably easy to make their inroads in such vulnerable
societies of the world (Lemnitzer 2019). They made their presence felt and started to colonize
their markets, while at the same time, influencing their native social, cultural, economic and
political spheres of activity. President Wilson was of the idea that it was this greed of the western
powers which led to the beginning of the war. Thus, there was a need to impose certain
restrictions on the colonial ambitions of the developed countries for maintaining the interests of
both the colonial people as well as the natives of the colonized world (George 2019).
President Wilson, to this extent, asked for the freedom of the seas (Lebow 2020). This
would allow the countries across the globe to use the seas as a medium to traverse to the lands in
search of natural resources and human capital so as to increase their market production (Cade
2017). This would also remove any kind of trade related barriers which were earlier instituted by
the nation states (Wilson 1918). The need of the hour is the economic progress and development
of the entire world as a whole.
However, the most characterizing feature of the Fourteen Points was that of the call for
the institution of an assembly of nation states which would act an intergovernmental organization
(Burnidge 2018). This platform would consist of representatives from all over the world and
have a say on the matters of international concern. The strength of the Fourteen Points lies in this
point which was articulated by President Wilson (Ambrosius 2017).
The significance of the Fourteen Points needs to be noted in the period after the speech
was over. The international leaders agreed to the speech and believed in the rigorous efforts of
the countries in order to bring about a change in the world for the better (Horne 2018). To this
extent, the League of the Nations was formed (Wilson 1918). However, it is significant to note

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that the United States of America was not made a part to this League of Nations. In fact, it
wanted to stay in its isolationist policy as it did not want to be dragged in between the
international conflicts. This was quite ironical since the League of Nations is considered to be the
brain child of the President himself (Daniels 2018). It was through his speech that the foundation
of the League was made and yet the very country decided to remain away from the League.
A comprehensive analysis of the Fourteen Points reveals that the state leaders around the
globe accepted their short comings that led to the war. The First World War was distressing for
almost all the countries of the world. Their economies were left in shambles and many countries
experienced rapid changes in their political structures. Governments fell and the people were left
without any kind of leadership. This called for a stability which was sought to be provided by the
guidelines laid down in the Fourteen Points (Wilson 1918). The points as articulated by the
President of the United States of America, acted for many people, as a learning outcome. Britain
sought to reform its colonial policies, allowing for a greater extent of autonomy within such
regions. The secret treaties came out in the open and the world started to know the alliances and
enmity which exists among the nation states. Furthermore, the institution of the League of
Nations ensured that the world had a platform where their voices would be heard. Instead of
taking recourse to battles and wars, now people had the means to resolve their differences and
conflicts in an amicable manner.
Thus, the historical significance of the speech in the Fourteen Points can be judged from
the points which were enunciated and how it sought to change the world with such guidelines.
The action of President Wilson was indeed commendable to this extent.
Conclusion

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In conclusion, it can be observed that the speech which was advocated by Woodrow
Wilson, had the power and authority in it to set out certain guidelines for the other world leaders
to adhere to. He called on the support and the aid of the international powers to help establish a
society which would be characterized by peace and harmony. In this context, the Fourteen Points
which were vocalized by him, all sought to create such a society. This came in the back drop of
one of the most devastating wars which was experienced in the history of the world. The First
World War led to the destruction in the lives and property of many people all around the world
and simply not of those powers who were directly involved in the war. Thus, the speech was an
attempt by Woodrow Wilson to help create a community of love and affection where people
would try to care for one another and live in peace.

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