Final answer:
Wilson's 14 Points sought to establish a peace plan after World War I, based on self-determination, free trade, disarmament, and the establishment of a League of Nations. The Paris Peace Conference and Treaty of Versailles partly reflected these points, but ultimately imposed harsher terms on Germany than Wilson desired. The redrawing of borders led to new countries but also to future conflicts due to discrepancies with ethnic and national divisions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Wilson's 14 Points were a series of proposals developed by President Woodrow Wilson, intended to establish a basis for peace following the devastation of World War I. The Points advocated for principles such as self-determination, free trade, the reduction of armaments, and the formation of an international organization dedicated to preventing future conflicts, which would become the League of Nations.
The Paris Peace Conference and the subsequent Treaty of Versailles saw the realization of these Points to differing degrees. While Wilson championed a "peace without victory," hoping to avoid punitive measures which might sow the seeds of future conflict, the Allies sought reparations and territorial concessions from Germany. Many of Wilson's ideals, such as self-determination and a league of nations, were incorporated into the treaty. However, the final terms were much harsher on Germany than Wilson had proposed, leading to a peace settlement that sowed discontent and laid the groundwork for future turmoil.
The process of redrawing Europe's borders following the treaty created numerous new countries, though these borders did not necessarily align with ethnic or national divisions on the ground, leading to complications and tensions in the years to come. The aftermath of the Treaty of Versailles proved that Wilson's hopeful vision for peace had not been fully realized, due in part to conflicting national interests and the complexity of geopolitics.