Excerpt from President Woodrow Wilson's 14 Points, 1918
What we demand in this war, therefore, is nothing peculiar to ourselves. It is that the world be made fit and safe to live in; and particularly that it be made safe for every peace-loving nation which, like our own, wishes to live its own life, determine its own institutions, be assured of justice and fair dealing by the other peoples of the world as against force and selfish aggression. . . .
In regard to these essential rectifications of wrong and assertions of right we feel ourselves to be intimate partners of all the governments and peoples associated together against the Imperialists. We cannot be separated in interest or divided in purpose. We stand together until the end.
For such arrangements and covenants we are willing to fight and to continue to fight until they are achieved; but only because we wish the right to prevail and desire a just and stable peace such as can be secured only by removing the chief provocations to war, which this programme does remove. We have no jealousy of German greatness, and there is nothing in this programme that impairs it. We grudge her no achievement or distinction of learning or of pacific enterprise such as have made her record very bright and very enviable. We do not wish to injure her or to block in any way her legitimate influence or power. We do not wish to fight her either with arms or with hostile arrangements of trade if she is willing to associate herself with us and the other peace-loving nations of the world in covenants of justice and law and fair dealing. We wish her only to accept a place of equality among the peoples of the world,—the new world in which we now live,—instead of a place of mastery.
Use the excerpt to answer the question.
What does the excerpt demonstrate about Wilson’s vision for a postwar United States?
A.
Wilson envisioned a more involved role for the United States in world affairs.
B.
Wilson suggested that the United States should retreat to an isolationist stance.
C.
Wilson argued that the United States needed to assume a more protectionist policy.
D.
Wilson imagined a leadership role for the United States in a global alliance for peace.
D. Wilson imagined a leadership role for the United States in a global alliance for peace. The excerpt emphasizes Wilson's commitment to creating a just and stable peace, and his willingness to fight for covenants of justice and law. He also emphasizes the need for a world where peace-loving nations can determine their own institutions and be assured of justice, suggesting that the United States would be a key player in creating such a world.
The correct answer is D. Wilson imagined a leadership role for the United States in a global alliance for peace. The excerpt demonstrates Wilson's vision for the United States to play an active part in shaping the postwar world order and ensuring peace and justice among nations. Wilson emphasizes the need for the world to be "made fit and safe to live in" and for every peace-loving nation to have the right to determine its own institutions and be protected against force and aggression. He speaks of being "intimate partners" with other governments and peoples against imperialism and asserts that the United States is willing to fight and continue fighting for such arrangements and covenants. Wilson also states that the United States does not have any jealousy or desire to harm or block Germany's influence or power, but rather wishes for Germany to join in collaborative agreements for justice, law, and fair dealing. This demonstrates Wilson's belief in the United States' leadership role in building a just and stable peace, where all nations are treated as equals.
To answer this question, we need to analyze the information provided in the excerpt. In the excerpt, Wilson states that "what we demand in this war... is that the world be made fit and safe to live in" and that they stand together with other governments against imperialists. Wilson also expresses a desire for a just and stable peace and for the removal of chief provocations to war.
From this information, it can be inferred that Wilson envisioned a leadership role for the United States in a global alliance for peace. He emphasizes the need for justice and fair dealing among nations, and expresses a willingness to fight and continue fighting until these goals are achieved.
Therefore, the correct answer is D. Wilson imagined a leadership role for the United States in a global alliance for peace.