The Treaty of Versailles &
Debate Over the League of Nations
■Essential Question:
–What were the major provisions of
Wilson’s 14 Points & the Treaty of
Versailles?
The End of World War I
■ The world was transformed by WWI:
– 22 million soldiers & civilians had died; 20
million were wounded; 10 million became
refugees
– Towns & farms along the Western & Eastern
Fronts were destroyed
– The war cost an estimated $338 billion &
massive funds were needed to rebuild Europe
22 million dead
20 million wounded
WWI Deaths
(Not Including Wounded or POW)
Devastation in Europe Due to WWI
Before
After the
theWar:
War:Village
Villageof
ofEsnes
Esnes
Devastation in Europe Due to WWI
Before
After the
theWar:
War:Hotel
Hotelde
delalaPrincerie,
Princerie,Verdun
Verdun
Wilson’s Fourteen Points
■ President Woodrow Wilson believed
that America ought to take a lead in
shaping the peace process
■ Near the end of the war,
President Wilson developed his peace
plan known as the Fourteen Points:
– Based on eliminating the reasons
for WWI (militarism, imperialism)
– Hoped to avoid all future wars by
creating an international forum to discuss &
arbitrate problems
PAIRS Activity:
Examining Wilson’s Fourteen Points
• In pairs, examine Wilson’s Fourteen Points:
–Using the chart in your notes, write in your
own words what each section of Wilson’s
peace plan means.
–Develop an image or symbol that captures
the main idea for each section of the plan.
–Do not write anything in the column titled:
“Was this point part of the Treaty of
Versailles?” (We will do this a bit later!)
–Be prepared for a quick class discussion.
Wilson’s Fourteen Points
■ President Wilson’s Fourteen Points contained three
main themes:
■ (Points 1-5) Create new rules that would eliminate the
causes of WWI
– No more secret treaties
– Reduction of militaries
– Freedom of the seas
– International control over colonies to end
imperialism
Wilson’s Fourteen Points
■ (Points 6-13) Divide weak empires like AustriaHungary & the Ottoman Empire into new nations
based on national “self-determination”
– New nations should have their borders drawn
with consideration to ethnic & national identities
– New nations should be free to choose their own
governments
Wilson’s Fourteen Points
■ (Point 14) To create a League of Nations to settle all
future international problems by compromise
rather than by war
The Treaty of Versailles, 1919
■ Wilson traveled to the Paris Peace Conference
in 1919 to help create the Treaty of Versailles:
– He hoped his Fourteen Points would become
the framework for the peace treaty
– But, Wilson quickly learned that European
leaders did not share his vision for a “peace
without victory” & wanted Germany to be
punished
British Prime Minister
David Lloyd George
French Premier
George Clemenceau
“The Big Four”
Italian Prime Minister
Vittorio Orlando
U.S. President
Woodrow Wilson
During the peace process, Wilson had to
compromise some of his Fourteen Points
The Treaty of Versailles, 1919
■ Delegates agreed to create a League of Nations
that included:
– An agreement that member nations would work
together to stop future acts of aggression
The Treaty of Versailles, 1919
■ Other treaty provisions included:
– Austria-Hungary was split in two,
Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, & Poland were
formed
– Germany had to accept the “war guilt clause,”
pay $33 billion in reparations, & lost all colonies
– No mention of free trade; No end to imperialism,
no reduction in militaries for any of the Allies
Land
wasEurope
taken from
Germany
Ottoman
Empire
given tothe
was
Central
wasThe
redrawn
to&reduce
divided;
Britain
& France
Poland;
Germany’s
border
with
France
was
power
of the Austro-Hungarian
Empire
demilitarized to avoid
gained
a future
mandates
invasion
in the
Middle East
New nations were
created
from
territory
Europe & Middle East
taken from Russia
(who
left WWI early
Before
& After
after the Bolshevik
Revolution)
World War
I
The Treaty of Versailles, 1919
But,
President
Wilson
could
not
sign
the
treaty
 On June 28, 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was
because
Article
I
of
the
Constitution
gives
the
signed by Germany & officially ended WWI
Senate the power to ratify all treaties
But, many U.S. Senators did not like the treaty
because of the League of Nations
Points 1-5:
New International Rules?
Points 6-13:
Divided Empires, New Nations,
Self-Determination?
Point 14: A League of Nations?
■ Essential Question:
–Why did the USA refuse to ratify the Treaty
of Versailles or join the League of Nations?
■ Warm-Up Question:
–What were the major themes of Wilson’s
Fourteen Points?
–Why don’t you think more of his Fourteen
Points made it into the Treaty of Versailles?
The Treaty of Versailles, 1919
■ All the major European
powers signed the
Treaty of Versailles &
joined the League
■ But, the Senate was
divided about what
joining the League
would mean for the
future of the United
States
Rejection in the Senate
■ Many members of the Senate attacked the
League of Nations:
– Wilson did not want to weaken the League of
Nations & refused to compromise with the
Senate
– Wilson toured the U.S. to gain public support
for the treaty, but had a stroke during the tour
■ In 1920, the Senate voted against the treaty &
U.S. membership in the League of Nations
Members of the League of Nations (in black)
The U.S. never joined the League & signed its
own peace treaty with Germany in 1921
Conclusions
■ The impact of the Great War:
– The U.S. began the 20th century as an imperial
power & reluctantly entered WWI to protect free
trade
– Involvement in WWI led to changes for women &
African-Americans, an economic boom, & the
restriction of liberties
The U.S. played a major role in the peace
process, but refusal to join the League
weakened the ability of world leaders to stop
World War II
