if the 14 Points were actually followed could World War II have prevented? Even without the League of Nations would the reforms Wilson advocated for foreign relations have worked?
The Fourteen Points seem too simplistic and idealistic to have worked.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourteen_Points
What do you think?
To answer the question of whether World War II could have been prevented if the 14 Points were actually followed, we need to understand what the 14 Points were and their potential impact on international relations. The 14 Points were proposed by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson in January 1918 as a roadmap for peace negotiations after World War I. They outlined principles for resolving conflicts and establishing lasting peace.
If the 14 Points had been fully implemented, they could have influenced the Treaty of Versailles and the subsequent treaties that reshaped the world after World War I. The 14 Points emphasized principles like self-determination, free trade, disarmament, and collective security.
However, it is important to consider the context of the time. The 14 Points faced resistance from some European leaders who were seeking harsh reparations and revenge against Germany. Ultimately, the Treaty of Versailles, which was signed in 1919, did not fully align with the vision of the 14 Points. The treaty imposed heavy financial reparations on Germany, diminished its territorial size, and established a punitive peace that left many Germans feeling discontented. These conditions set the stage for socio-political unrest in Germany, eventually leading to the rise of Adolf Hitler and World War II.
Therefore, if the 14 Points had been fully followed, it is possible that a more lenient and conciliatory approach towards Germany could have avoided some of the underlying causes of World War II. However, it is important to note that preventing such a complex and multifaceted conflict goes beyond a single set of principles.
Regarding the League of Nations, which was proposed by Wilson as part of his post-war reforms, its absence also played a role in the outbreak of World War II. The League of Nations aimed to maintain collective security and resolve conflicts peacefully. However, due to various reasons, including the United States not joining and the league's limited effectiveness, it was not successful in preventing the rise of aggression and hostilities in the 1930s.
In summary, while following the 14 Points and implementing Wilson's proposed reforms might have mitigated some of the causes of World War II, it is difficult to assert with certainty that it could have completely prevented the war. The complex and interconnected nature of the factors leading to the war makes it challenging to attribute it solely to the failure of Wilson's principles.