Germany responded to Wilsons call for peace without victory by proposing a temporary armistice

On January 8, 1918, Wilson gave what was to become his most famous speech. Known as the Fourteen Points Speech because it outlined the fourteen elements Wilson felt were essential to a lasting peace, it was delivered to establish moral goals for America's participation in World War I. Wilson also hoped the speech would encourage the Central powers to end the hostilities. The plan initially backfired; instead of signaling for peace talks, the German Army actually intensified its efforts on the European western front. Within ten months, however, the German Army conceded and appealed to Wilson to begin a series of peace talks based on the Fourteen Points. An armistice was declared on November eleven, 1918.

Of the fourteen key areas Wilson described, eight concerned specific geopolitical issues that had to be resolved after the war, while the remaining six dealt with general ideology necessary for peace. The most significant of the points included freedom of the seas, an end to secret treaties and negotiations, establishing equal and free trade, arms reduction, welcoming the new Soviet Russia into the international community, granting self-government to the peoples in Central Europe and the Balkans, independence for Turkey and Poland, and establishing a forum of nations to ensure freedom and peace for all peoples of the world.

Wilson's Fourteen Points were unique for several reasons. To begin with, the speech was unprecedented: no major world leader had ever declared such lofty war aims and objectives for establishing peace. In fact, Wilson referred to his vision of the postwar settlement as "peace without victory." Second, Wilson's Fourteen Points were based purely on a sense of morality and righteousness, unlike most of the Allied aims, which were based on vindictiveness and a desire for war spoils. In other words, Wilson's idea of peace did not include punishing Germany and the Central powers for their aggressiveness, nor did it include taking land or money. Finally, the Fourteen Points were based on a sense of liberalism that was new to international politics. The final and perhaps the most famous of the Fourteen Points, for example, called for global cooperation in order to secure true peace.

One of Wilson's primary reasons for entering the war–aside from the immediate threat to American shipping and sovereignty–had ironically been to establish peace. Since the early years of the war, he had believed that no lasting peace would ever be established unless he, or another such impartial statesman, attended the peace accords. Otherwise he felt certain the European powers would fall into further fighting over land and colonial rights. It is no surprise that after the armistice Wilson personally went to Europe to attend the peace conference, despite the protests and advice for his political allies and friends. No previous President had ever done such a thing. Wilson took with him a large team of advisors, including Secretary of State Lansing, and Col. Edward M. House. The First Lady, Edith Bolling Wilson, accompanied him as well. Wilson chose only those men he felt he could trust implicitly, and therefore did not take any powerful Republicans or members of the Republican controlled Senate. This decision proved to be a mistake.

Wilson landed in Brest, France, in December 1918 and then proceeded to Paris. His welcoming party in the capital proved to be unlike anything he or any other American President had seen before. Hundreds of thousands of Parisians lined the streets cheering Wilson's name and celebrating his arrival. Many in the country and throughout Western Europe saw Wilson as their savior and hero. He was given similar greetings in London and Rome. In Italy, Wilson met with Pope Benedict XV, becoming the first U.S. President to meet with a Pope while in office. Wilson also visited American soldiers stationed throughout Europe and celebrated the Allied victory with them; however, he refused to visit any of the battle sites because he feared that seeing such horrors would prejudice him against Germany and prevent him from achieving a just peace.

After a brief tour of Western Europe, Wilson settled down in Paris to discuss peace and to draft a formal treaty to end the war. The treaty convention became known as the Paris Peace Conference. Although thirty-two nations from around the world were represented at the conference, Wilson worked primarily with British Prime Minister Lloyd George, French Premier Georges Clemenceau, and Italian Premier Vittorio Orlando. Collectively, the men were known as the Big Four. The President often found it difficult working with them because, though they admired Wilson's ideology and desire for peace, they also wanted reparations from Germany including money and land. Wilson knew that if he allowed the other European nations to destroy Germany, the continent would eventually dissolve into war again.

In an attempt to ensure such a renewed conflict would not occur, Wilson proposed that the nations of the world–including Germany–create a forum called the League of Nations. He felt that if such a league existed, nations could address their grievances in an open discussion rather than plot against each other and arm for war. Many opposed Wilson's suggestion to include Germany, but Wilson felt that Germany's input was essential for the war to truly come to an end. Many others called for a separate convention to create the League so that a peace treaty could be drafted and signed immediately. Wilson refused to separate the League from the treaty and threatened to back out of the peace talks altogether if this was done. He knew that if the League of Nations was not included in the peace treaty with Germany, his idea would die. He eventually won, and even chaired the committee that drafted a charter for the new League of Nations. The charter was included in the peace treaty, known as the Treaty of Versailles. The convention then submitted the treaty to Germany on the fifth anniversary of the beginning of the war. After the German representatives signed the treaty, President Wilson returned home to the United States.

Germany responded to Wilson's call for "peace without victory" by proposing a temporary armistice.

Wilson's proclamation of the war as a crusade to end all war and spread democracy around the world inspired intense ideological enthusiasm among Americans.

Among Wilson's Fourteen Points were freedom of the seas, national self-determination for minorities, and an international organization to secure peace.

The Committee on Public Information used an aroused American patriotism more than formal laws and censorship to promote the war cause.

The primary targets of prosecution under the Espionage and Sedition Acts were German and Austrian agents in the United States.

Even during the war mobilization, Americans were extremely reluctant to grant the federal government extensive powers over the economy.

Despite bitter and sometimes violent strikes, American labor made economic and organizational gains as a result of World War I.

War-inspired black migration into northern cities led to major racial riots in 1917-1919.

The passage of the Nineteenth Amendment granting women's suffrage guaranteed the permanence of women's wartime economic gains.

American troops actually played only a small role in the Allies' final victory.

When Woodrow Wilson arrived in Europe, the European public hailed him as a hero and a peacemaking savior.

Wilson's skillful handling of Republican political opposition strengthened his hand at the Paris Peace Conference.

Other Allied leaders forced Wilson to make serious compromises in his Fourteen Points in order to keep the League of Nations in the Treaty of Versailles.

Wilson's unwillingness to compromise and accept Republican reservations to the Treaty of Versailles sent the whole treaty down to defeat.

In the election of 1920, Republican Harding supported the League of Nations while Democrat Cox tried to evade the issue.

The immediate cause of American entry into World War I was...

Germany's resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare.

Wilson aroused the somewhat divided American people to fervent support of the war by...

proclaiming an ideological war to end war and make the world asafe for democracy.

The capstone "Fourteenth Point" of Wilson's declaration of war aims called for...

an international organization to guarantee collective security.

The purpose of George Creel's Committee on Public Information was...

to whip up public support for the war and promote anti-German propaganda.

The two key laws aimed at enforcing loyalty and suppressing antiwar dessent were...

the Espionage Act and the Sedition Act.

Among the primary victims of the prowar propaganda campaign to enforce loyalty were...

German Americans and socialists.

The mobilization for war gave new momentum to the movement for...

a constitutional amendment granting women the right to vote.

Particularly violent strikes erupted during and after World War I in the...

mining and steel industries.

During World War I, African American military men served primarily in...

segregated, non-combat support units.

A major difference between the World War I Selective Service Act and the Civil War draft was that...

in World War I it was not possible to purchase an exemption or to hire a substitute.

American soldiers were especially needed in France in the spring of 1918 because...

a renewed German offensive was threatening to break through to Paris.

Most of the military supplies for General Pershing's expeditionary force came from...

America's European allies.

Wilson blundered when choosing the American peace delegation by failing to...

include any Republicans in the delegation.

The European powers and Japan weakened Wilson at the peace conference by...

forcing him to compromise his ideals on matters of self-determination and punishment of Germany.

Wilson bore considerable responsibility for the failure of the United States to join the League of Nations because...

he ordered Democratic senators to defeat the pro-League treaty with the Lodge reservations.

Wilson's appeal to all the belligerents in January 1917, just before the Germans resumed submarine warfare.

Message that contained a German proposal to Mexico for an anti-American alliance.

Wilson's idealistic statement of American war aims in January 1918 that inspired the Allies and demoralized their enemies.

American government propaganda agency that aroused zeal for Wilson's ideals and whipped up hatred for the kaiser.

Committee on Public Information

Radical antiwar labor union whose members were prosecuted under the Espionage and Sedition Act.

Industrial Workers of the World

Weak federal agency designed to organize and coordinate U.S. industrial production for the war effort.

Constitutional provision endorsed by Wilson as a war measure whose ratification achieved a long-sought goal for American women.

Treasury Department bond-selling drives that raised about $21 billion to finance the American war effort.

The nations that dominated the Paris Peace Conference - namely, Britain, France, Italy, and the United States.

Wilson's proposed international body that constituted the key provision of the Versailles treaty.

Controversial peace agreement that compormised many of Wilson's Fourteen Points but retained his League.

Senatorial committee whose chairman used delaying tactics and hostile testimony to develop opposition to Wilson's treaty and League of Nations.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee

A hard core of isolationist senators who bitterly opposed any sort of league; also called the "Batallion of Death.

Amendments to the proposed Treaty of Versailles, sponsored by Wilson's hated senatorial opponent, that attempted to guarantee America's sovereign rights in relation to the League of Nations.

Wilson's belief that the presidential election of 1920 should constitute a direct popular vote on the League of Nations.

Head of the American propaganda agency that mobilized public opinion for World War I.

Socialist leader who won nearly a million votes as a presidential candidate while in federal prison for antiwar activities.

Head of the War Industries Board, which attempted to impose some order on U.S. war production.

Head of the Food Administration who pioneered successful voluntary mobilization methods.

Commander of the overseas American Expeditionary Force in World War I.

Leader of the pacifist National Women's Party who opposed U.S. involvement in World War I.

Climactic final battle of World War I.

Hated leader of America's enemy in World War I.

Inspirational leader of the Western world in wartime who later stumbled as a peacemaker.

Wilson's great senatorial antagonist who fought to keep America out of the League of Nations.

The "tiger" of France, whose drive fore security forced Wilson to compromise at Versailles.

Senatorial leader of the isolationist "irreconcilables" who absolutely opposed all American involvement in Europe.

Defeated Democratic presidential candidate in the election of 1920.

Massachusetts governor and Warren G. Harding's vice presidential running mate in the election of 1920.

Folksy Ohio senator whose 1920 presidential vicotry ended the last hopes for U.S. participation in the League of Nations.

Germany's resumption of submarin warfare forces the United States onto a declaration of war.

The Senate's final defeat of teh Versailles treaty and a Republican election victory end Wilson's last hopes for American entry into the League of Nations.

The United States takes the first hesitant steops towar preparedness in the event of war.

The effectiveness of American combat troops in crucial battles helps bring about an Allied victory in World War I.

Wilson struggles with other Allied leaders in Paris to hammer out a peace treaty and organize the postwar world.

finally pushed the United States into World War I.

Germany's resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare...

lifted Allied and American spirites and demoalized Germany and its allies.

Wilson's Fourteen Points...

caused harsh attacks on German Americans and other Americans who opposed the war.

The wartime atmosphere of emotional patriotism and fear...

helped pass the Nineteenth Amendment but did not really change society's emphasis on the maternal role.

Women's labor in wartime factories...

led to major racial violence in Chicago and East St. Louis, Illinois.

The migration of African Americans to northern cities...

stopped the final German offensive and turned the tide toward Alied victory.

American troops' entry into combat in the spring and summer of 1918...

Weakened the president's position during the peacemaking process.

Wilson's political blunders in the fall of 1918...

forced Wilson to compromise his Fourteen Points in order to keep the League as part of the peace treaty.

The strong diplomatic demands of France, Italy, and Japan...

allowed domestic disillusionment and opposition to the treaty and League to build strength.

Senator Lodge's tactics of delaying and proposing reservations in the Versailles treaty...

forced Democrats to vote against a modified treaty and killed American participation in the League of Nations.

Wilson's refusal to accept any reservations supported by Lodge...