To explain to students American and European diplomacy between WWI and WWII. Includes Woodrow Wilson's 14 point peace plan and the beginning of the League of Nations.

1. Woodrow Wilson, the 14
peace points &
The League of Nations

2. Background
• In 1918, Woodrow Wilson (President of the
USA at the time) made a speech to American
Congress in January (10 months before the
end of the war)
• He outlined 14 points that he thought would
ensure world peace for the future
• These points all relate to ‘causes’ of World
War One. Put them into the categories of
Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism,
Nationalism

3. The 14 Peace Programme Points
• 1. No more secret agreements ("Open
covenants openly arrived at").
• 2. Free navigation of all seas.
• 3. An end to all economic barriers
between countries.
• 4. Countries to reduce weapon
numbers.

4. • 5. All decisions regarding the colonies
should be impartial
• 6. The German Army is to be removed
from Russia. Russia should be left to
develop.
• 7. Belgium should be independent like
before the war.
• 8. France should be fully liberated and
allowed to recover Alsace-Lorraine

5. • 9. All Italians are to be allowed to live in
Italy. Italy's borders are to be "along
clearly recognisable lines of
nationality."
• 10. Self-determination should be
allowed for all those living in Austria-
Hungary.
• 11. Self-determination and guarantees
of independence should be allowed for
the Balkan states.

6. • 12. The Turkish people should be
governed by the Turkish government.
Non-Turks in
the old Turkish Empire should govern
themselves.
• 13. An independent Poland should be
created which should have access to the
sea.
• 14. A League of Nations should be set up
to guarantee the political and territorial
independence of all states.

7. • Who?
– Woodrow Wilson and America lead the charge to
set up an international body for peace
– However, they did not join the league as they
wanted to remain ‘isolationist’
– Germany was not allowed to join, due to taking
the blame for WWI
– Russia not allowed to join as it was a communist
government by this point
– All other countries could join and in 1919 there
were 42 member states, including Australia

8. What?
• Representatives from participating countries
met in an annual general assembly
• The aim was to discuss issues that may affect
world peace
• The ‘Council’ met more often and was made
up of permanent members France, Britain,
Japan and Italy
• It also had the ability to set up international
courts and other organisations

9. When?
• Initially mentioned in 1918 by
Wilson
• Established in 1919 at the
Versailles treaty conference
• Became the United Nations in
1945

10. Where?
• Participating members initially joined at
Versailles
• Meetings of council and general
assemblies were held in Geneva,
Switzerland (remember Switzerland had
remained neutral throughout the war)

11. Why?
• To stop another catastrophic war from
happening
• To ensure peaceful ways of ending
conflicts
• To some extent, to ensure the Treaty of
Versailles (and the others) were carried
out