Because most of the proposals that President Woodrow Wilson laid out in his 1918 "Fourteen Points" Speech did not result in actions or agreements, the platform is generally considered a failure. The reasons that the points were not successful include widespread opposition in the United States as well as abroad. The inherent impracticality of numerous points is also a factor, as they reflected Wilson’s inherent idealism rather than a pragmatic assessment of world affairs. In addition, Wilson’s presidency basically collapsed because of his severe health problems, including a severe stroke, even before his second term ended in 1921.

Wilson had changed course on US involvement in World War I when German attacks led to his abandoning isolationism. The "Fourteen Points" reflect Wilson’s desires for a peaceful world order based in international cooperation, rather than one supported by the fear of armed conflict. Ending the war without enacting most of his proposals rendered some of his platform moot. The large-scale diplomatic solutions that he suggested would prevent further wars were widely viewed as impractical or unnecessary.

Many Americans, including those who had opposed their country’s entry into the war, advocated a renewed focus on domestic issues. European powers also largely discouraged continued US involvement, sometimes condemning US intervention and the violation of the very kind of national sovereignty that Wilson advocated.