LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Woodrow Wilson, the

The League of Nations

14

peace

points

o
&

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
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.
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.
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.
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.

Who?
o Woodrow Wilson and America lead the
charge to set up an international body
for peace

o
o
o

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

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

When?
o Initially mentioned in 1918 by Wilson
o Established in 1919 at the Versailles
treaty conference
o Became the United Nations in
October 24, 1945

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

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