Question 1: Which of the Fourteen Points is most significant for lasting peace?
Using the text of the Fourteen Points below (and your analysis from yesterday's assignment) to help you, develop your opinion on this essential question regarding the future of our world and the precarious peace President Wilson has worked to establish in Versailles.
Submit your comments below. For each question, every student should:
- Write a comment using evidence to back up your opinion (either by referencing the document or referencing specific facts discussed in class or in your readings)
- Ask a question
- Respond to someone else's comment or question
Document 1: The Fourteen Points
I. Open covenants of peace, openly arrived at ...
II. Absolute freedom of navigation upon the seas, outside territorial waters, alike in peace and in war ...
III. The removal, so far as possible, of all economic barriers and the establishment of an equality of trade conditions among all the nations consenting to the peace and associating themselves for its maintenance.
IV. Adequate guarantees given and taken that national armaments will be reduced to the lowest point consistent with domestic safety.
V. A free, open-minded, and absolutely impartial adjustment of all colonial claims, based upon a strict observance of the principle that in determining all such questions of sovereignty the interests of the populations concerned must have equal weight with the equitable claims of the government whose title is to be determined.
VI. The evacuation of all Russian territory and such a settlement of all questions affecting Russia as will secure the best and freest cooperation of the other nations of the world in obtaining for her an unhampered and unembarrassed opportunity for the independent determination of her own political development and national policy ...
VII. Belgium, the whole world will agree, must be evacuated and restored, without any attempt to limit the sovereignty which she enjoys in common with all other free nations. ...
VIII. All French territory should be freed and the invaded portions restored, and the wrong done to France by Prussia in 1871 in the matter of Alsace-Lorraine, which has unsettled the peace of the world for nearly fifty years, should be righted, in order that peace may once more be made secure in the interest of all.
IX. A readjustment of the frontiers of Italy should be effected along clearly recognizable lines of nationality.
X. The peoples of Austria-Hungary, whose place among the nations we wish to see safeguarded and assured, should be accorded the freest opportunity to autonomous development.
XI. Rumania, Serbia, and Montenegro should be evacuated; occupied territories restored ...
XII. The Turkish portion of the present Ottoman Empire should be assured a secure sovereignty ...
XIII. An independent Polish state should be erected which should include the territories inhabited by indisputably Polish populations ...
XIV. A general association of nations must be formed under specific covenants for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity to great and small states alike.
Point 14 is the most significant for lasting peace because it creates a group of mediators in foreign affairs. It will make sure all the countries that signed the treaty will follow it to prevent further issues.
ReplyDeleteAgreed the only major problem is that Article Fourteen is also the easiest to abuse as in many cases there is not a clear aggressor.
DeleteWhat do you mean by no clear aggressor?
DeleteI agree, others who are not involved will see this association and will less likely start a fight.
DeleteRene is trying to say that sometimes knowing who really started the "fight" isn't clear because there is always two sides to every story.
DeleteI agree, as international affairs would be discussed in group, preventing future issues.
DeleteArticle Fourteen is, atleast in principle, the most important in securing peace as its purpose is to enforce all other articles as without a body of enforcement the articles would have no power.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean by saying without a body of enforcement?
DeleteHow would it enforce the other articles?
DeleteThe 14th point is the most significant because it calls for a international association to enforce peace.
ReplyDeleteI agree and believe this could be a vital part of keeping peace between countries.
DeleteWhat were nations that must be formed for the purpose of guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity?
DeletePoint XIV is the most important to be able to maintain peace between all nations because discussions about global issues can be addressed by all countries in the organization.
ReplyDeleteI agree because it can stop small issues from becoming bigger and causing a war.
DeleteI believe that article 2 is essential for maintaining peace since it prevents the formation of alliances and therefore war. As an example we have the US and Britain who joined forces against the Germans to stop them from further intervening in their trade during the Great War.
ReplyDeleteHow exactly does having free waters prevent nations from forming alliances?
DeleteI don't see the point of free waters. That wouldn't have prevented any creation of an alliance.
DeleteI also agree that article 2 is important for lasting peace
DeleteHow does it prevent alliances?
DeleteEconomic reasons are the single most responsible for most all wars. This makes Article III extremely important. In addition to preventing further wars on economic grounds, Article III allows for international competition, leaving the consumer better off.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your reasoning as economics do play a vital role in war involvement
DeleteArticle 1 prevents the creation of alliances in secret by preventing any treaty/or part of the treaty. Alliances are realitvely dangerous threat to the peace, due to the mistrust and tension that other nations outside that alliance will gain.
ReplyDelete(EDIT): The most clear example came with the creation of the Triple Alliance, which brought the creation of the Triple Entente.
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ReplyDeleteArticle 14 is the most significant because the League would provide a platform for all members to voice their concerns and they would be able to settle those issues much more peacefully
ReplyDeletePoint V is the most important because by following through with this, other conflicts can be avoided concerning the land and can keep everyone happy and therefore keep peace between one another.
ReplyDeleteCould complete peace with everyone ever be accomplished?
ReplyDeleteFrom the 14 points, I think point 2 is important because it provides safety for British and American passengers, preventing conflicts with Germany's U-Boat.
ReplyDelete