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After World War I, the priority was to address the issues that caused the war, rather than punishing the losers. The Treaty of Versailles aimed to ensure world peace and protect the interests of the leaders involved, but its provisions faced opposition and the treaty was never approved by the U.S. Congress. This text discusses the goals and provisions of the treaty, as well as the reasons for its failure and the predicted reaction of Germany.
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To ensure war does not break out again, which of the following should be the priority after WWI: • punish the losers • Address the issues that caused the war Turn & Talk
From January to June 1918, president Woodrow Wilson and the European powers met at the Palace of Versailles, outside of Paris, to decide the peace terms for the treaty with Germany to end World War I. President George Clememceau from France Prime Minister David Lloyd George from Great Britain President Vittorio Orlando from Italy President Woodrow Wilson from the USA
Treaty of Versailles • They were joined by representatives from thirty other countries. However, it was these four men, collectively known as the “Big Four,” who ultimately negotiated the most important provisions of the Treaty of Versailles. • Contrary to custom, the peace conference did not include the defeated Central Powers • Also, Communist Russia was left out of the process
Peace Treaty Goals • Ensure world peace • Protect the interests of the leaders they represent
Read your country’s background info. You are either representing the United States or the European powers. • As a pair, prioritize the pink provisions cards. Raise your hand when you’re finished. • REMEMBER to appease the citizens and government of your country.
President Wilson’s Fourteen Points • Even before the war was over, President Wilson presented his plan for world peace. • On January 18, 1918, he delivered his now famous Fourteen Points speech before Congress. • The first five points were issues President Wilson believed needed to be addressed to prevent another war…
There should not be secret treaties among nations. (Stop ALLIANCES) • Freedom of the seas should be maintained for all. (Addresses problems with IMPERIALISIM) • Tariffs and other economic barriers among nations should be lowered or abolished in order to foster free trade. (Addresses economic problems of IMPERIALISM) • Arms should be reduced “to the lowest point consistent with domestic safety, thus lessening the possibility of military responses” during diplomatic crises. (MILITARISM should not be used as a means of diplomacy) • Colonial policies should consider the interests of the colonial peoples as well as the interests of the imperialist powers. (IMPERIALISM)
President Wilson’s Fourteen Points • Points 6-13 deal with boundary changes. • President Wilson based these provisions on the principle of self-determination “along historically established lines of nationality”. In other words, groups that claimed distinct ethnic identities were to form their own nations or decide for themselves to what nations they would belong.
Wilson’s14th Point • The fourteenth point called for the creation of an international organization to address diplomatic crises like those that sparked World War I. • This League of Nations would provide a forum for nations to discuss and settle their grievances without having to resort to war.
Treaty of VersaillesFinish for homework, if time runs out • Whose provisions were more fully met- President Wilson’s, the European powers, or Germany’s? • Why didn’t Congress ever approve the Treaty of Versailles? • Predict Germany’s reaction to the Treaty of Versailles. Give reasons for your prediction. • Why didn’t the Treaty of Versailles lay the foundations for lasting world peace? • Do you think WWI had a positive or negative effect on American society?
What provisions were passed? • Treaty of Versailles established new countries: Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia. • It carved five areas out of the Ottoman Empire and gave them to France and Britain as colonies. • It barred Germany from maintaining an army. • It required Germany to return the region of Alsace-Lorraine to France. • It required Germany to pay reparations, or war damages, amounting 33 billion to the Allies.
Why didn’t Congress ever approve the Treaty of Versailles? • The treaty faced strong opposition in the U.S. Some thought it was too harsh and the economic consequences would pull Europe apart. • Others disliked the support of Imperialism because exchanged one set of imperial rulers for another. • The main opposition however was over The League of Nations. Critics believed joining the League would threaten America’s foreign policy of isolationism.
The U.S. Senate voted on ratification in 1919 and 1920. Both times the treaty did not earn enough votes for ratification. • In 1921, the U.S. signed a separate treaty with Germany (after Wilson was no longer president). The U.S. NEVER JOINED THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS THAT PRESIDENT WILSON FOUGHT SO HARD TO CREATE.
Predict Germany’s reaction to the Treaty of Versailles. Give reasons for your prediction. • Germany will be upset about the War Guilt Clause = it forced Germany to admit full responsibility for the start of the war • Reparations = 33 billion to the Allies • Loss of Territory = return region of Alsace-Lorraine to France • Germany wasn’t allowed to maintain an army
Why didn’t the Treaty of Versailles lay the foundations for lasting world peace? • The Treaty of Versailles created resentment among German citizens and their gov officials
Do you think WWI had a positive or negative effect on American society? Negative - • To popularize the war, the gov set up the nation’s first propaganda agency, the Committee on Public Information • Debate over joining League of Nations divided the nation • Returning soldiers faced unemployment or took jobs from women and African Americans • Farmers and factories suffered economically as wartime orders diminished • People responded to stressful conditions by becoming mistrusting of outsiders. It led to nativism = prejudice against foreign-born people and anti-immigration hysteria and distrust and discrimination towards German-Americans • isolationism = a pulling away from involvement in foreign affairs • Congress passed the Espionage and Sedition Act a person could be fined up to $10,000 and sentenced 20 years in jail for interfering with war effort or saying anything disloyal (violating the 1st Amendment) • 48,000 American deaths in war & 200,000 wounded (22 mil total deaths)
Positive + • Accelerated the Great Migration, the war gave job opportunities to blacks in Northern cities • Accelerated America’s emergence as the world’s greatest industrial power • The U.S. helped win the war! • Americans and veterans were proud • Built Nationalism • Women moved into jobs that been exclusively held by men: railroad workers, cooks, dockworkers, and bricklayers, for example. In total, one million will enter the workforce. • Women received recognition for their work and charitable activities to the war, Pres. Wilson publically thanked and acknowledged them, this boost in public support helped lead to the passing of the 19th Amendment in 1920 • Birth of Veterans’ Day: Honors the end of WWI, when an armistice or truce, was signed on the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour of 1918
