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Woodrow Wilson and the Treaty of Versailles

Woodrow Wilson and the Treaty of Versailles. Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921). Academic by profession: President of Princeton University; PhD in Political Science In entering the war, he hoped to lead the world towards a "just peace" For him, WW1 would become the “war to end all wars.”

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Woodrow Wilson and the Treaty of Versailles

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  1. Woodrow Wilson and the Treaty of Versailles

  2. Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921) • Academic by profession: President of Princeton University; PhD in Political Science • In entering the war, he hoped to lead the world towards a "just peace" • For him, WW1 would become the “war to end all wars.” • As a professional academic, he was more idealistic than most of his supporters

  3. Wilson’s 14 Points • Wilson condensed his ideas for peace into one speech: “The 14 Points” • Hoped to prevent new wars from happening • “National Self-Determination” would allow for independence of nations within • Austro-Hungarian Empire • Ottoman Empire • Poland • Colonies in Africa and Asia • Reduce national armaments • Freedom of the seas

  4. Wilson Traveled to Versailles • Asked Americans to re-elect Democrats to Congress in 1918; instead, Republicans won both House and Senate • Wilson chose mostly Democrats to be on his negotiating team in France • Wilson demanded a “peace without victory” to create a peaceful future • England, France, and Italy demanded war guilt and revenge • Germany, Austria, Ottoman Empire took no part in talks • Russia did not attend

  5. Punishing Germany at Versailles • Clause 231: Germany forced to admit to starting WW1 • Germany was forced to pay “reparations” money to pay to England and France • Reparations were huge sum of gold to be paid over 20 years • Some feared that reparations would ruin Germany’s economy • Austria did not pay reparations because it went bankrupt immediately after war • US did not receive reparations, but England and France used money to repay US banks

  6. National Self-Determination • Theory: nations could decide their independence and borders would reflect their populations • Truth: Some nations got independence, many didn’t. • Germans were not united because Allies feared a larger Germany • New countries: • Czhechoslovakia • Romania • Bulgaria • Yugoslavia (Balkan nations, combined into one kingdom) • Poland • Estonia • Latvia • Lithuania

  7. But Not for Africa, Asia • England and France kept colonial control in Africa and Asia • England and France gained control of territories in Middle East (temporary “mandates” to control land of Ottoman Empire) • Wilson succeeded in adding “League of Nations” to peace treaty • First try at an international organization of nations to work for peaceful conflict resolution • Failed mostly because US did not join • US Republicans feared that the League could drag the US into a war the US might not want

  8. US Senate Rejected Treaty • “Reservationists” in Senate liked treaty, except for Article 10 of League of Nations • John Cabot Lodge led Republicans against treaty because Wilson was Democrat • Internationalists liked treaty • Wilson spoke across country in favor of treaty: collapsed from overwork (in Pueblo, CO!) • “Partisanship” killed the treaty: US signed separate treaty in 1921

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