Woodrow Wilson and the Fourteen Points

The Fourteen Points were guidelines for a just and lasting peace treaty to end conflict after World War One.

Wilson believed that if Germany was treated harshly, it would recover and seek revenge. He was also concerned about the rise of extremist groups like communists.

The most important principle for Wilson was the establishment of a 'League of Nations' for international cooperation.

<p>It would be very difficult to give the peoples of eastern Europe the opportunity to rule themselves because they were scattered across many countries. Some people were bound to end up being ruled by people from another group with different customs and a different language.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>He did not want Germany to seek revenge in the future and possibly start another war. Like Wilson he was deeply concerned that a harsh treaty might lead to a communist revolution like the one in Russia in 1917.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Lloyd George faced huge public pressures at home for a harsh treaty. People in Britain were not sympathetic to Germany in any way. They had suffered over 1 million casualties in the fighting as well as food shortages and other hardships at home.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>France had suffered enormous damage to its land, industry, people - and self-confidence. Over two-thirds of the men who had served in the French army had been killed or injured. The war affected almost an entire generation. By comparison, Germany seemed to many French people as powerful and threatening as ever.</p> Signup and view all the answers