Wilson’s speech is a response to the approaching conclusion of World War I. The war began in 1914 and, at the time of Wilson’s speech, had been waged for more than three bloody years. On one side were the Allied Powers of Britain, France, Italy, Russia, and many smaller nations. On the other were the Central Powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire. The nations that started the war did so for a mixture of national pride, desire for land, and loyalty to alliances (some of which were public and others secret). After millions of casualties and little progress on most fronts, the public mood was bitter across Europe. Most were sick of war but also craved a peace that justified such tremendous sacrifices. They felt the other side had to be punished and one’s nation had to gain something of value—otherwise the war had no meaning.

The US only entered the war in April 1917, less than a year before Wilson’s speech. It declared war on Germany after German submarines (U-boats) sank American civilian ships transporting supplies to the Allied Powers. The US had lost few men by the end of 1917 and lacked the territorial ambition that characterized other participants.