Woodrow Wilson was an American president in the early 20th century who advocated for a new world order after World War 1. This included his Fourteen Points speech outlining principles like self-determination and collective security. Wilson played a key role in creating the League of Nations to enforce collective security and prevent future wars. However, the US Senate rejected the Treaty of Versailles, undermining the League. Nonetheless, Wilson's vision influenced the later establishment of the UN and development of international law around human rights and decolonization.

1. WOODROW WILSON AND THE AGENDA FOR
PEACE.
PRESENTED BY
OSUWA, OLUWASEYI EVELYN
(150104021)
lecturer-in-charge:
Prof. Ademola, Adeleke.
PRESENTATION ON

2. Only a peace between equals can last. Only a peace the very principle of
which equality and a common participation in a common benefit.
- Woodrow Wilson

3. Overview
 Early Life and Career of Woodrow Wilson
 The Fourteen Points and the Paris Peace Conference.
 Creation of the League of Nations and its goals
 Woodrow Wilson's efforts towards disarmament and arms control
 Opposition to the Treaty of Versailles and failure of US ratification
 Woodrow Wilson's vision for a new world order and principles of international
cooperation.
 Legacy of Woodrow Wilson's approach to international relations and peace building.
 Criticisms of Woodrow Wilson's policies and approaches to diplomacy:
 Impact of Wilson’s ideas on the development of International Law and the United
Nations.
 Conclusion

4. Early Life and Career of Woodrow Wilson
Birth College Professorship Authorship Governorship Presidency
December 28,
1856
1879 1902 1885&1889 1910 1912
in Staunton,
Virginia.
By
Joseph
Ruggles Janet
Woodrow
Wilson and
Janet
Woodrow
Wilson
Davidson
College in
North
Carolina for
one year
before
transferring
to Princeton
University
Became a professor
of history and
political economy at
Bryn Mawr College in
Pennsylvania. In
1902, he was
appointed president
of Princeton
University.
"Congressio
nal
Government
" (1885) and
"The State"
(1889)
Elected
governor of
New Jersey
Democratic
nomination
for
president

5. The Fourteen Points and the Paris
Peace Conference.
 The Fourteen Points and the Paris Peace Conference were key components
of Woodrow Wilson's vision for a post-World War I world order. Wilson's
Fourteen Points, outlined in his speech to Congress in January 1918.
 The Paris Peace Conference in 1919, saw Wilson as a major player in a
leading role of negotiating the Treaty of Versailles and promoting his
vision for a new world order.
 the Fourteen Points and the Paris Peace Conference remains a significant
milestone in the history of international relations and diplomacy.
 Wilson's ideas influenced the development of the League of Nations and
later the United Nations, and continue to inspire efforts towards
international cooperation, conflict resolution, and peace building.

6. Creation of the League of Nations and its goals
Symbol of The League
Of Nations
 The League of Nations was created in 1920 as an
international organization with the primary goal
of maintaining world peace and preventing future
conflicts like World War I.
 The League also sought to promote disarmament
and international cooperation in areas such as
health, education, and social welfare.
 It laid the groundwork for the establishment of
the United Nations, which has continued the
mission of promoting international peace and
cooperation.

7. Woodrow Wilson's efforts towards disarmament
and arms control
 1919, Wilson put forward a series of proposals for disarmament at the Paris Peace
Conference, including the establishment of an international commission to oversee
disarmament efforts and the eventual abolition of all weapons of mass destruction.
 Wilson also played a leading role in the Washington Naval Conference of 1921-1922, which
aimed to reduce tensions between the United States, Japan, and other naval powers by
establishing limits on naval armaments. The resulting treaty, known as the Five-Power
Treaty, established restrictions on the size and number of naval vessels that each power
could possess.
 Wilson's efforts towards disarmament and arms control reflected his commitment to
promoting peaceful resolution of international conflicts and reducing the risk of war.

8. Opposition to the Treaty of Versailles
and failure of US ratification
 Opposition to the Treaty of Versailles and failure of US ratification
were major obstacles in Woodrow Wilson's efforts to promote his
vision for a new world order.
 The treaty was not ratified by the US Senate, which lacked the
required two-thirds majority, and the US subsequently did not join
the League of Nations.
 The failure of the US to ratify the Treaty of Versailles and join the
League of Nations had significant implications for the
international system and contributed to growing tensions and
conflicts in the interwar period. It also reflected broader debates
about the role of the US in world affairs and the balance between
international cooperation and national sovereignty.

9. Woodrow Wilson's vision for a new world order and
principles of international cooperation.
Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, serving from 1913 to 1921. In his
famous Fourteen Points speech delivered in January 1918, he outlined his vision for a new
world order after the end of World War I, which included the following principles:
 Open diplomacy
 Freedom of the seas
 Free trade
 Arms control
 Self-determination
 Collective security

10. Legacy of Woodrow Wilson's approach to international
relations and peace building.
 His vision of a League of Nations and the pursuit of collective security has influenced the
development of international organizations such as the United Nations, promoting peaceful
resolution of conflicts and cooperation among nations.
 His advocacy for the rights of smaller states and minorities helped shape global politics
and paved the way for the decolonization movements of the 20th century.
 Wilson's impact on international relations and peace building highlights the importance of
diplomacy, multilateralism, and the pursuit of democratic values in promoting global
stability and cooperation.

11. Criticisms of Woodrow Wilson's policies and
approaches to diplomacy
Failure to compromise
Inconsistency
Idealism vs. pragmatism
Racism
Failure of the League of Nations

12.  President Woodrow Wilson's ideas had a significant impact on the development of international law and the
formation of the United Nations.
 Wilson's vision of a world order based on the principles of cooperation, collective security, and the rule of law
played a key role in shaping the post-World War I settlement.
 Wilson proposed the creation of the League of Nations, an international organization that would ensure
collective security and promote cooperation among nations
 The UN was established in 1945 following the end of World War II, with the aim of promoting international
cooperation and preventing future conflicts. The organization has been instrumental in developing and
enforcing international law, including the Geneva Conventions, which govern the treatment of prisoners of war
and civilians during armed conflicts.
Impact of Wilson’s ideas on the development of
International Law and the United Nations.

13. Wilson's ideas had a profound impact on the development of international
law and the establishment of the United Nations as a forum for promoting
global peace and cooperation. It also influenced the development of the
concept of self-determination, which became a cornerstone of international
law and the basis for the decolonization movements of the mid-20th century.
CONCLUSION

14. Thank You