‘Peace Without Victory’
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Analyze Wilson’s statement regarding the end of the war. Why does
he call it ‘peace without victory’? What is he warning against? What
Progressive ideals are present in his statement? Discuss with a
partner.
They imply, first of all, that it must be a peace without
victory. … Victory would mean peace forced upon the
loser, a victor's terms imposed upon the vanquished. It
would be accepted in humiliation, under duress, at an
intolerable sacrifice, and would leave a sting, a resentment,
a bitter memory upon which terms of peace would rest, not
permanently, but only as upon quicksand. Only a peace
between equals can last. Only a peace the very principle
of which is equality and a common participation in a
common benefit. The right state of mind, the right feeling
between nations, is as necessary for a lasting peace as is the
just settlement of vexed questions of territory or of racial and
national allegiance.
Wilson’s 14
Points
Progressivism in Action
Fourteen Points
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In a speech to Congress before the war ended,
President Wilson outlined a vision of a “just and
lasting peace.”
His plan was called the Fourteen Points, and among
its ideas were
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Open diplomacy, freedom of the seas, the removal of
trade barriers, and the reduction of military arms
A fair system to resolve disputes over colonies
Self-determination, or the right of people to decide their
own political status and form their own nations
Establishing a League of Nations, or an organization of
countries working together to settle disputes, protect
democracy, and prevent future wars
Fourteen Points (cont’d)
 The
Fourteen Points expressed a new
philosophy that applied progressivism to
U.S. foreign policy.
 The Fourteen Points declared that foreign
policy should be based on morality, not
just on what’s best for the nation.
Treaty of Versailles
 Terms
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of peace determined by “Big Four”
President Wilson of the United States
Prime Minister Lloyd George of Great Britain
Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau of
France
Prime Minister Vittorio Orlando of Italy
What did it do? (big picture)
 Establishes
League of Nations
 Cripples Germany militarily, economically,
territorially
What did it do? (details)
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Established the League of Nations
Germany had to accept the blame for starting the war (Clause 231). This was
vital because it provided the justification for...
Germany had to pay £6,600 million (called Reparations) for the damage
done during the war.
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Germany was forbidden to have submarines or an air force. She could have
a navy of only six battleships, and an Army of just 100,000 men. In addition,
Germany was not allowed to place any troops in the Rhineland, the strip of
land, 50 miles wide, next to France.
Germany lost territory (land) in Europe
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132 Billion German Marks -> $400 Billion in today’s money
These payments were recently completed October 4, 2010
Germany’s colonies were given to Britain and France.
Also, Germany was forbidden to join the League of Nations, or unite with
Austria.
Question
 To
what extent can the Treaty of Versailles
be said to have been a root cause of
WWII?
League of Nations
 42
members - by 1930’s 59
 Defeated countries could not join e.g.
Germany
 Russia excluded because communist
 USA did not join - isolation from world
affairs
 A club for the victorious?
Powers of the League
 If
a country ignored the ruling of the
League it could:
 Put pressure on
 Refuse to trade - sanctions
 Send in troops - member countries join
together
Strengths
 Many
countries supported it in early days they wanted peace
 Had some early successes:
 Settled some land disputes in 1920’s
 helped refugees, dealt with spread of
disease, fought for better conditions for
people
Weaknesses
 USA
didn’t join
 No real power - relied on goodwill and
persuasion
 No permanent army
 Disarmament not realistic
 Structure a disaster - everyone had to
agree before any action taken
Question
 To
what extent does the League of
Nations represent a shift in American
foreign policy?