After WWI
After the armistice was signed, the leaders of the Allies
and the Central Powers met in Paris to discuss the terms
of the peace.

This event was known as the Paris
Peace Conference.
◦ It is a very important event for Canada.
◦ Prime Minister Robert Borden fought for
Canada to have its own independent seat at
the conference.
◦ Canada was NOT represented by Britain –
Canada was becoming autonomous.
The Paris Peace Conference

At the end of the Paris Peace Conference,
the Treaty of Versailles was created and
signed by the leaders of both sides.
◦ This treaty is also important for Canada.
◦ Borden (Canada) signed it. In the past,
Britain would have signed all of our treaties for
us.
◦ Canada was becoming autonomous.
New World Map - 1919

What was the treaty of Versailles like?
◦ The British and the French basically used the
treaty to punish and weaken Germany.
 Germany had to agree to a “war guilt clause”.
It accepted responsibility for starting the war.
 Germany had to pay reparations totalling $30
billion.
 Germany was to give away territory to France
and to the newly independent country of Poland.
 The German military would be limited to
100,000 men, with no u-boats and no airforce.

What do you think the strengths and
weaknesses of this treaty were?
◦ The Treaty of Versailles also established an
international organization whose purpose was
to promote peace. This organization became
known as the League of Nations.

The League of Nations was:
◦ Based on the principle of collective security
(if one member is attacked, all members come
to its aid).
The League of Nations

...BUT it had many weaknesses
◦ It could only punish aggressive nations through
trade sanctions.
◦ It did not have a military force of its own.
◦ Some very powerful countries never became
members, including the USA.