LAD/Blog #32: Wilson's 14 Points of Peace

Woodrow Wilson proposed his Fourteen Points on January 8, 1918. These points created a basis for peace and were later incorporated into the Treaty of Versailles. However, these points, to a greater extent, were idealistic. This is reflected in the failure of the Treaty of Versailles. Wilson did not plan to punish Germany. However, his points were too lenient for some of the Allies. France, for example, wanted to implicate harsh penalties and war reparations on Germany. Hence, the War Guilt Clause was created. Therefore, it is clear that the Fourteen Points were far too idealistic. Wilson could not implement the freedom of navigation, removal of economic barriers, and creation of new boundaries, amongst other points. Especially, he could not enforce the creation of the League of Nations, which the US refused to enter. 

The Fourteen Points eventually set the foundation for the Treaty of Versailles. These points proposed peace, which, when the Great War was over, were used to end the war. Nonetheless, the Treaty failed, eventually leading to WWII.

LAD/Blog #31: Schenck V. United States

In World War I, Schenck distributed circulars, which are letters addressed to a large group of people, with the purpose of getting the attention of those being drafted. He argued against the draft but only suggested peaceful action or resistance against the Conscription Act (and act that made the first wartime draft in the United States). However, Justice Holmes ruled that Schenck's actions violated the Espionage Act since his letters seemed to talk down the military and discourage people from attending. Holmes argued that Schenck's letters presented a "clear and present danger" so, Congress had the right to stop and prevent these actions.

This is similar to the Peter Zenger trial since in this trial, Zenger was tried with speaking out against the government like Schenck.