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The Treaty Of Versailles

The Treaty Of Versailles. “The Treaty That Defined The 20 th Century”. The Traditional View Of Versailles (McKay). Wilson insists on idealism, the League of Nations and self-determination. But France & Britain only want to punish Germany The resulting treaty was a compromise.

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The Treaty Of Versailles

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  1. The Treaty Of Versailles “The Treaty That Defined The 20th Century”

  2. The Traditional View Of Versailles (McKay) • Wilson insists on idealism, the League of Nations and self-determination. • But France & Britain only want to punish Germany • The resulting treaty was a compromise. • League was created but harsh reparations, “War Guilt” and dismemberment of Germany. • The US Senate then refuses to adopt the treaty. • The American retreat into isolation dooms League (and Europe?) and sets up World War II.

  3. However . . . • Is the traditional interpretation supported by the evidence?

  4. Was The Lost German Territory Really “German?”

  5. Was Germany Really Worse Off? • Look at the map again.

  6. Was Germany Really Worse Off? • Relative to its neighbors, Germany is better than it was at the beginning of the War. • Austrian Empire gone, replace by small, weak states. • Germany is the only Central European power. • By contrast, England and France don’t really benefit much from victory.

  7. Were Reparations Really So Bad? • Allies were willing to give them up in return for forgiveness of their war debt to U.S. • U.S. says no way, so Allies insist Germany pay. • Germany actually pays very little reparations out of pocket. Mostly borrows from U.S. to pay France to repay U.S. • But Germany perceives as unfair.

  8. The “War Guilt” Clause • Not unique. Germany had imposed same condition on France after Franco-Prussian War. • But Germans were not told / did not believe that. • Again, they perceive the treaty as unfair.

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