What were the interests of the Americans? How did it influence the outcome? What were Wilson's responses to the member states of the Versailles meeting?
Woodrow Wilson failed to extend his policy of self-determination beyond Europe and the major powers of Britain, Japan, and France. This resulted in disappointed colonial people who expected immediate change The colonized were not initially decidedly anti-western. The disappointment with Wilsonianism led to the development of their own self determinist movements, and shaped the demands of countries such as China India Egypt Korea Wilsonian-ism was a sense of a moment in history where Darwinism would be transcended Old power relationships would end Equality and dignity would place all nations on an level international stage. Wilson, however existed as a dichotomy between what he projected during the war and his true feelings His wartime image was as an advocate for international justice. The reality was that he: never promised equality for all he thought that non-europeans were better off with european intervention. This lead many self determinist groups to adopt his language and tailor it to their needs. Then at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919 it became clear that his policy of self determination did not extend beyond europe. This caused anti-colonial upheavals in Korea, Egypt, China, and India. Wilsonian movement launched anti-capitalism. The spring of 1919 saw a mobilized quest for liberation. This caused the colonies to turn anti-western They turned to new ideologies like communism. Anti-western sentiment came from failure of peace conference to provide equality. In turn, this set the stage for radicalism in the 20th century.
Source: Ezra Manela http://www.amazon.com/The-Wilsonian-Moment-Self-Determination-International/dp/0195378539
For a Primary Source, see Wilson's speech at the conference, known as the fourteen points speech. http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Fourteen_Points_Speech
As /u/poopsymk3 said, the Fourteen Points Speech outlined many of Wilson's hopes at the end of World War I. I will attempt to take the points 1 by 1 and explain how they were implemented or not implemented (and maybe try to provide some "why"s as I go.
A. Open covenants of peace must be arrived at, after which there will surely be no private international action or rulings of any kind, but diplomacy shall proceed always frankly and in the public view.
Wilson likely worried that secret defense pacts would continue to weave an impossible web of alliances, which would lead to subsequent world wars. His concerns were not entirely unfounded, but it does not appear that diplomacy ever became truly and completely open. Even today, negotiations often go on behind closed doors (ie. Israel-Palestinian talks going on now), depending on who is mediating or who is at the table.
B. Absolute freedom of navigation upon the seas, outside territorial waters, alike in peace and in war, except as the seas may be closed in whole or in part by international action for the enforcement of international covenants.
This point was largely rejected until after World War II. Today, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) guarantees it, but this was not always the case. The point made no appearance in the Treaty of Versailles, and while France and the United Kingdom had agreed to most of the points at the time (10 months before the Armistice), the UK refused to accept this point. Writes Snell:
The Wilson-Wiseman interview of October 16, 1918, was a direct outgrowth of the German government's acceptance of the Fourteen Points.^^1
(So we know Germany accepted the points as a framework). How about the UK? Furthers Snell:
The president's comments to Wiseman, particularly with reference to freedom of the seas, were more conciliatory toward Great Britain than was the Lippmann-Cobb memo. This helps to explain how the British were brought to accept and support all the points except that concerning freedom of the seas.^^1
He later points out that the French and Italians agreed with the British draft, saying:
Wiseman aided in the preparation of a decisive British draft note of October
The British did not, however, end up conceding on the point of the freedom of the seas, and it had no influence in the Treaty of Versailles as a result.
C. 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.
This, too, had little actual placement in the Treaty of Versailles. There was no mention of it, really, to my knowledge. A cursory glance through it reinforces my memory, but I haven't read it closely in quite some time, so that may be wrong.
D. Adequate guarantees given and taken that national armaments will be reduced to the lowest points consistent with domestic safety.
This...kinda happened. What really resulted was not in the Treaty of Versailles, but a subsequent treaty (Washington Naval Treaty). That treaty restricted the sizes of the navies of all signatories (UK, US, France, Japan, Italy). It was later reinforced in London in 1930, and again in 1936. However, arms races did not really stop by any means.
E. 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 population concerned must have equal weight with the equitable claims of the government whose title is to be determined.
I think it's pretty clear this didn't happen. Germany was forced to give up all colonial claims they had, and many areas that were to be granted sovereignty either didn't get it until after World War II (ie. Israel/Palestine, Syria, etc.) or didn't get it in the way they'd hoped. The Treaty was far more punitive than the 14 Points suggested it be.
F. 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, and assure her of a sincere welcome into the society of free nations under institutions of her own choosing; and, more than a welcome, assistance also of every kind that she may need and may herself desire. The treatment accorded Russia by her sister nations in the months to come will be the acid test of their good will, of their comprehension of her needs as distinguished from their own interests, and of their intelligent and unselfish sympathy.
This point is a little vague, but it could've been a pretty thoroughly established point. Russia was evacuated, but Russia was not really "welcomed" into the major powers. The Soviet Union was not admitted until 1934 to the League of Nations (not to say they wanted to be). The U.S did not formally recognize the Soviet Union until 1933, over 10 years after the Treaty of Versailles. Relations remained chilly, in short.
G. 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. No other single act will serve as this will serve to restore confidence among the nations in the laws which they have themselves set and determined for the government of their relations with one another. Without this healing act the whole structure and validity of international law is forever impaired.
Belgium was liberated and enjoyed its former level of sovereignty, and managed to recover. This was part of the Treaty of Versailles (Germany had to give up any occupied land), and reparations were set to be paid to Belgium in the Treaty of Versailles. While this isn't necessarily what Wilson had in mind, the idea could be said to have been preserved.
H. 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.
Well, it's pretty clear that France was liberated under the Treaty. The annexation of Alsace-Lorraine did occur, and France was "righted" in that regard, so that did happen.
I. A re-adjustment of the frontiers of Italy should be effected along clearly recognizable lines of nationality.
Italy's borders remained largely unchanged, but Wilson did manage something in that regard, so there's that.
J. The peoples of Austria-Hungary, whose place among the nations we wish to see safeguarded and assured, should be accorded the freest opportunity of autonomous development.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire largely fell apart, and was carved up into new states. Were the results done by free opportunity? Depends who you ask.
K. Romania, Serbia, and Montenegro should be evacuated; occupied territories restored; Serbia accorded free and secure access to the sea; and the relations of the several Balkan states to one another determined by friendly counsel along historically established lines of allegiance and nationality; and international guarantees of the political and economic independence and territorial integrity of the several Balkan states should be entered into.
The areas were evacuated, Serbia given access, etc. This was not necessarily Wilsonian influence; the other powers wanted similar things.
L. The Turkish portions of the present Ottoman Empire should be assured a secure sovereignty, but the other nationalities which are now under Turkish rule should be assured an undoubted security of life and an absolutely unmolested opportunity of autonomous development, and the Dardanelles should be permanently opened as a free passage to the ships and commerce of all nations under international guarantees.
Well, as I said, Turkey was given independence but the rest of the area...not so much.
M. An independent Polish state should be erected which should include the territories inhabited by indisputably Polish populations, which should be assured a free and secure access to the sea, and whose political and economic independence and territorial integrity should be guaranteed by international covenant.
Poland existed, as Germany could attack it in 1939, so this point went through.
N. 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.
League of Nations did get created, but it was largely ineffective. The Treaty of Versailles was never ratified in the United States, arguably because of the League of Nations and its requirements.
Sorry for terseness near end, character limit.
^^1 Wilson on Germany and the Fourteen Points John L. Snell The Journal of Modern History , Vol. 26, No. 4 (Dec., 1954) , pp. 364-369