Final answer:
The Treaty of Versailles placed blame on Germany for WWI, demanding reparations and territorial losses, while Wilson’s Fourteen Points promoted collective responsibility and aimed for lasting peace through principles like self-determination and the League of Nations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Responsibility is addressed differently in the Treaty of Versailles compared to President Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points. The Treaty of Versailles placed explicit blame and responsibility on Germany for World War I, leading to severe reparations and territorial losses. In contrast, Wilson’s Fourteen Points emphasized mutual responsibility and aimed to establish principles such as self-determination, free trade, open diplomacy, and the creation of an international body, the League of Nations, to prevent future conflicts and promote global cooperation.
While Wilson’s approach was based on idealism and moral leadership, offering a vision for a lasting peace without assigning specific blame, the Treaty of Versailles resulted in a starkly punitive document that assigned guilt to Germany and imposed heavy burdens to ensure reparations and limit future military capabilities. Wilson’s vision for a collective security under the League of Nations was largely compromised due to the differing priorities of other Allied leaders, who were more interested in retribution than long-term peace as envisioned in the original Fourteen Points.