https://padlet.com/lawrenceh/nuwlap8w2xrnjcxh Made with a little mischief en-us 2021-04-22 02:08:00 UTC 2026-01-24 17:57:04 UTC hello@padlet.com lawrenceh https://padlet.com/lawrenceh/nuwlap8w2xrnjcxh/wish/1445292327 The proposal of Racial Equality, was suggested by the Japanese, which demanded that their be unity between races within the League of Nations. It  aimed to move the world forward after the war, to become a more racially uniform society. According to Josh Axelrod, 'Japan rose as a mighty player on the world stage'. This was due to their participation in WW1, and victory in the Russian-Japanese War (1905). In an attempt to retain this new power, Japan proposed it's idea of Racial Equality to the Treaty of Versailles, initially to gain an equal seat at the table and fortify it's diplomatic position. France, Greece and Italy all voted in favour of the proposal, however, Australia disagreed and pushed back. The British already had a White Australian Policy, instituted in 1901, which disallowed all non-white settlement. Billy Hughes, the 7th Prime Minister of Australia, was able to pull Britain into resisting the proposal, and eventually got the U.S on board also. Ultimately, the proposal was rejected, due to Billy Hughes' determination to protect White Australia Policy, as well as a lack of support from both the U.S, Britain, and the British dominions.]]> 2021-04-22 02:15:34 UTC https://padlet.com/lawrenceh/nuwlap8w2xrnjcxh/wish/1445292327 lawrenceh https://padlet.com/lawrenceh/nuwlap8w2xrnjcxh/wish/1445294825 The principle of self-determination was established by Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the United States. The term proposed the idea that a nation was able to strive for it's own independent state or government, and was used as an aim to create peace after the devastation of WW1. Self determination also allowed states the right to freely choose numerous systems, including cultural, political, social and economic. The Paris Peace Conference (1919-1920) was a meeting that brought together various officials from all over the globe, in order to return the peace after WW1. Woodrow proposed fourteen points in order to return peace, including the idea of self-determination. This resulted in a high level of hope for the people so tragically effected by the war. However, during the Peace Conference, officials concluded that the idea of self-determination would not be accessible to everyone. Maja Spanu states in her article, 'colonised peoples had to be excluded from such a process because they were not yet politically mature'. Therefore, after the war, self determination was only allowed to constituted states. However, Woodrow's idea of self-determination was never given full recognition, as his description was vague, causing confusion between those present, and resulted in many different interpretations. ]]> 2021-04-22 02:16:34 UTC https://padlet.com/lawrenceh/nuwlap8w2xrnjcxh/wish/1445294825 lawrenceh https://padlet.com/lawrenceh/nuwlap8w2xrnjcxh/wish/1455267722 The idea of self-determination, proposed by Woodrow Wilson, was an attempt to create peace after WW1, and soon became a key aim for the United States. When Wilson landed in Paris, he was greeted with positive uproar, as those affected by the war saw him as a symbol of hope for the future. Wilson believed this new idea of self-determination (apart of his 14 points) would allow a nation to strive for it's own independent state or government, as well as allowing states the right to freely choose numerous systems. This gave nations the right to choose their political fate. Wilson's idea was published highly in the media, and the people had great faith in Wilson and his ideas. 

Wilson's appearance as a hope for the future was interrupted, and those who were excited about his arrival were quickly disappointed. The terms of the Treaty of Versailles, did not meet the expectations of Wilson, causing rejection by most of his global admirers. Additionally, as a result of this proposal, the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires, as well as the Russian Baltic territories, were fractured and broken up into new states. 

The Paris Peace Conference also mainly focused on European countries. This created request for self determination in those countries outside of Europe. A particular call was made from China, Korea, Egypt and many others, and as historian Erez Manela states, "in which the interests of one or more of the victorious Allied powers stood to be compromised if the demands were entertained." Wilson's lack of consistency with his promises created tension within countries, and lead to a degree of uncertainty when it came to Wilson, as many feel they couldn't trust him. 

Vladamir Lenin, a Russian revolutionary and Former Premier of the Soviet Union, believed there was a right of nations to self-determination. This referred to the idea that each nation Empire would be able to freely choose whether or not to seperate, or abide with the Russian people. Lenin's idea of self determination could be perceived as a democratic decision, and Woodrow's meaning was that the people were able to choose their own future, by majority vote of the entire population. Lenin's ideas behind self-determination were Marxian, of course, whereas Woodrow's were not. 

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