“In a series of public statements, most notably in his Fourteen Points address of January 18, 1918, Wilson molded these broad principles into a peace program. Called by the New York Herald “one of the great documents in American history,” the speech responded to Lenin’s revelations of the Allied secret treaties dividing the spoils of war and his calls for an end to imperialism as well as a speech by Lloyd George setting out broad peace terms.  Wilson sought to regain the initiative for the United States and rally Americans and Allied peoples behind his peace program.  He called for ‘open covenants of peace, openly arrived at.’ He reiterated his commitment to arms limitations, freedom of the seas, and reduction of trade barriers.  On colonial issues, to avoid alienating Allies, he sought a middle ground between the old-style imperialism of the secret treaties and Lenin’s call for an end to empire.  He did not use the word self-determination, but he did insist that in dealing with colonial claims the ‘interests’ of colonial peoples should be taken into account, a marked departure from the status quo.  He also set forth broad principles for European territorial settlements –a sharp break from the U.S. tradition of non-involvement in European affairs.  The peoples of the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires should be assured ‘an absolutely unmolested opportunity of autonomous development.’ Belgium must be evacuated, territory formerly belonging to France restored.  A ‘general association of nations’ must be established to preserve the peace.'” (George Herring, From Colony to Superpower, p. 412)

Discussion Questions

  • In this chapter, Herring paints a vivid portrait of Woodrow Wilson.  How would you characterize Wilson’s leadership on foreign policy and global strategy?
  • Do the Fourteen Points represent a general continuation or a fundamental departure from American foreign policy traditions?