Woodrow Wilson presented his Fourteen Points speech to a joint session of Congress on January 8, 1918 in hopes of promoting peace in the aftermath of WWI. The first five points of the speech provide general guidelines for peace. In points four and five, the power of peaceful nations is addressed and Wilson identified the need to change in order to create a stable and peaceful world.
In point four, Wilson says that all peaceful nations must disarm and retain only enough weaponry to provide domestic safety.
Point five is directed at the colonial powers, directing them to release all colonial claims and to work in with the colonized counties for the benefit of those populations.
In point eight Wilson requires that French territory be returned to France, including the Alsace-Lorraine portion that had been in contention since 1871.
In point nine, Wilson suggests the readjustment of Italian boarders by clearly defined nationality lines.
In point ten, Wilson states that the people of Austria-Hungary should be given the opportunity for self-government and that borders should be created along nationality lines.
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