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Explore the aftermath of WWI, the impact of the Treaty of Versailles, the formation of new nations, and global mandates. Evaluate the treaty's fairness and its role in shaping future conflicts.
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“Peace” After WWI Unit 5Chapter 28
The Big Four • Woodrow Wilson – U.S. • Focused on preventing future wars • Wanted self-determination
The Big Four • Georges Clemenceau – France • Determined to prevent any future German invasions • Wanted Lorraine back
The Big Four • David Lloyd George – Great Britain • Wanted to make Germany “pay”
The Big Four • Vittorio Orlando – Italy • Wanted control of Austrian territory because Italians lived there—but essentially ignored!
British Foreign Secretary Balfour • “…three all-powerful, all-ignorant men, sitting there and carving up continents.”
Wilson’s Fourteen Points • Plan for world peace • Presented to Congress before war ended • Designed to prevent future world wars
Fourteen Points • No secret treaties between nations • Agree to freedom of the seas • Free trade (eliminate tariffs) • Agree to reduce arms • Countries that control colonies should consider the interests of the colonial peoples
Fourteen Points • # 6-13 dealt with boundary changes • suggested that areas that had distinct ethnic identities should be able to form their own nation or decide which nation they should belong • Russia free Eastern European areas • Belgium should be freely restored • Areas on Balkan Peninsula free to form countries • Turkish people free to form own countries
Fourteen Points • Creation of the League of Nations • International peace-keeping body • Address issues diplomatically
Treaty of Versailles • June 28, 1919 • Big Four met to create treaty • Did not permit central power representatives to participate • Did not allow Russia to participate because they had turned Communist • Other “3” did not like Wilson’s points, so he conceded most in return for establishing the League of Nations
Provisions of Treaty • Created the League of Nations • Redrew the map of Europe • Created 9 new nations • Redrew boundaries • France recovered Lorraine • Britain obtained new territory from Germany in Africa & Middle East • Germany had to take full responsibility for the war—”war guilt clause” • Barred from maintaining an air force; permitted small army & navy for defense only • Required to pay reparations to Allies • Had to give up all colonial claims
Mandate System colonial rulers would administer the new territories but would be accountable to the League of Nations for the “material & moral well-being and the social progress of the inhabitants”
Class C Mandates Class B Mandates • larger but still undeveloped; were to be ruled for the benefit of their inhabitants under League of Nations supervision; they would get autonomy at an unspecified time • most of Germany’s African colonies fell into this category territories with small populations would be treated as colonies this applied to smaller islands in the Pacific & smaller territories in Africa
Class A Mandates • territories that had “reached a stage of development where their existence as independent nations can be provisionally recognized subject to the rendering of administrative advise and assistance by a Mandatory, until such time as they are able to stand alone” • mainly applied to the old Ottoman Empire • Arab peoples saw this as a promise of independence • Palestine (Israel), Transjordan (Jordan), and Iraq became British mandates • France claimed Syria & Lebanon
League of Nations Mandates in Africa l Losses: 1919-1921
Consider: • How fair was this treaty? • Which nations would have been pleased with the outcome? • Remember, this treaty was designed to “prevent” a future war!
The Treaty’s Weaknesses • Unfair humiliation of Germany • War-guilt clause • No way Germany could pay the reparations • Russia had fought for 3 years & had higher casualties than any other country; yet the treaty took more land from Russia than from any other nation, including Germany!
Small child under a canopy of the treaty • Above child’s head reads “1940 class” • How old would a child born in 1919 be in 1940? • What is the cartoonist suggesting about the treaty?
U.S. Opposition to the Treaty • Wanted to return to isolationism • Wilson could not convince Congress to approve the treaty • Had a stroke and could not rally support by the time of the vote
Not the “War to End All Wars” • Physical and financial destruction of Europe • Massive loss of life • Unresolved issues • Treaty of Versailles unfair • Germany specifically in shambles looking for someone to unite them • Who could that be?
