The Peacemakers of Versailles
Background:
The most important people at the peace conference in Versailles, France, were the British
Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, the French Prime Minister, Georges Clemenceau and
the President of the USA, Woodrow Wilson.
David Lloyd George
He came to Versailles to reach a lasting peace
that will allow Britain to rebuild her trade.
However, he would happily take some of
Germany’s overseas colonies if they were on
offer. The people back in Britain were calling for
Germany to be “squeezed like a lemon” and
Lloyd George knew that he needed to keep the
people happy, so things such as reparations and
war costs would be discussed too.
David Lloyd George
Lloyd George did not like Woodrow Wilson
because Wilson was in favour of selfdetermination (the ability of small countries to
rule themselves) and because he said that he
thought that the British should grant freedom to
its colonies. His relationship with Clemenceau
was no better – the French leader had already
tried to hit him!
Woodrow Wilson
His first priority was a “just peace” with a treaty that
punished Germany, but did not humiliate her. He laid out his
aims and ideals in a document called the Fourteen Points in
January 1918. The main points of this were selfdetermination and the construction of the League of Nations.
The League of Nations would be an international
organisation that kept the peace through collective unity and
strength and peaceful discussion.
Wilson felt that Lloyd George and Clemenceau were too
selfish and that they were only interested in doing what was
good for their countries. He thought that they were too hung
up on humiliating and blaming Germany for the crimes of
the First World War than trying to prevent another one.
Woodrow Wilson
Georges Clemenceau
On the top of his priority list were complete security
from future German attacks and reparations from
Germany for the damage done to France in the war.
Unlike Lloyd George, Clemenceau’s demands were
powered by the suffering of his people and a bitter hate
for the Germans, not a consuming greed. The French
lost over 8000 square miles of farmland and six out of
ten French men between the ages of eighteen and
twenty-eight were either dead or permanently maimed.
The French had a valid reason to cry for blood.
Clemenceau thought that Wilson was far too idealistic
and he did not trust Lloyd George in the least. He felt
that neither of them cared for France and the hardships
his people had suffered.
Georges Clemenceau
Questions:
1. What were the names of the Big Three and which countries did they represent? [1]
2. Lloyd George’s main aim was a lasting peace in Europe. Why, specifically, did he want
this? [2]
3. Why did Lloyd George not like Woodrow Wilson? [1]
4. Why do you think that Woodrow Wilson did not want to humiliate Germany? [2]
5. What were the two main ideas of the Fourteen Points? [2]
6. What did Wilson think of the other two leaders? [1]
7. Why did Georges Clemenceau want to make Germany pay? [2]
8. Were the French people in favour of a gentle treaty? Why or why not? [2]
9. What do you think made Clemenceau think that Wilson and Lloyd George did not care
for France? [2]
10. Which member of the Big Three was the most likely to give Germany a just and fair
treaty? Using what you have learnt, write an essay backing up your view. Remember to
include valid arguments about why the other two members would not be your choice! [7]
Total points: [20]
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