Treaty of Versailles
US
Preview
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What should happen when a country is defeated
in a war? Should they be punished?
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What would be good about punishing them?
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What would be bad about punishing them?
Woodrow Wilson and the US
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He was very idealistic.
He thought he could
negotiate a peace
settlement that would
prevent future wars.
Wilson’s Plan for a New World
Order
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Wilson’s plan for peace was called the 14-Points.
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Some of the things it called for:
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Free Trade
Freedom of the Seas
Arms reduction
An end to secret alliances
*Self-Determination—the right of people to have their
own countries and choose their own form of
government. Breaking Up the Ottoman and AustrianHungarian Empire. NO MORE COLONIES OR
EMPIRES!
The League of Nations
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Above all, Wilson’s plan called for an
international organization called the League of
Nations.
The League would be made up of members from
all of the countries of the world and would settle
disputes without war.
They would also use collective security
(everybody ganging up on whoever got out of
line) to prevent war in the future.
Wilson Arrives in Paris
The Paris Peace Conference
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The Allies met in Paris to
decide what should be done
now that he war was over.
Wilson represented the U.S.
Georges Clemenceau
represented the French.
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David Lloyd George the British.
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Vittorio Orlando = Italy.
How might the British and French
want a different type of peace
settlement than the U.S.?
What the leaders wanted
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Wilson wanted his 14-points. He wanted to be
easy on Germany so there would be no
resentment.
The British and the French wanted to punish
Germany and keep her weak.
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They also want to keep their colonies.
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France wants Alsace-Lorraine
The Treaty of Versailles
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The final treaty was the Treaty of Versailles.
The treaty was very harsh on the Germans.
Germans were forced to say that the war was their fault.
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They were forced to pay large reparations (payments) to cover the
destruction caused by the war and for allied soldiers pensions.
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The total amount was over $30-Billion
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They had to give up territory to France and were not allowed to
have a big army or navy.
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They lost their colonies. (England and France kept theirs.)
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People in Austro-Hungarian Empire are given Self-determination.
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Ottoman empire broken up—League of Nations takes over their
territory.
The League of Nations
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The League of Nations was accepted.
But for the US to be a part, Wilson needs
to go back to the US and get Senate to
approve it.
Divisions at home (US)
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Irreconcilables —Against joining the League
under any circumstances.
They are traditional isolationists—believe that
the US has no business in European affairs.
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See the League as an alliance.
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Mainly Republicans.
Reservationists
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Think that the League might be Ok, but some changes
are needed before they can go along.
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Fear that as written, the US would have no control over
when its troops were sent to war.
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Call for Amendments that give US sole authority to send
troops.
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Mainly Republicans and some just want to embarrass
Wilson.
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Led by Henry Cabot Lodge.
Internationalists
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Wilson and his supporters (mainly Democrats).
They are for US to be a part of the League of
Nations.
Think that the US has a moral obligation to be
involved in world affairs.
If you keep to yourself, then you have no
influence.
Wilson Takes it to the People
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Frustrated by Senate opposition, Wilson
went on nation-wide speaking tour.
Has a stroke.
In the end, Wilson would not make a deal
with the reservationists and the US never
joined the League of Nations.
Review
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What was the name of the agreement hat
ended WWI?
A = Treaty of Versailles
How did Wilson’s postwar vision differ
from those of the British and the French?
Why?
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What was the name of Wilson’s plan to create a new
world order and prevent future wars?
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A = 14 points
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What was the name of the World Organization
proposed by Wilson that was supposed to keep the
peace in the post-war world?
A = League of Nations.
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Name and describe the two groups of U.S. senators
that were opposed to joining the League of Nations.
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A = Irreconcilables and reservationists.