World History - The Treaty of Versailles

World War I

The League of Nations

Today We Have

The Treaty of Versailles

Wilson’s Attempts to Create the League of Nations

Consequences of Wilson’s Efforts

Costs of War

Wilson was certain that he could solve the problems of Europe. “Tell me what is right and I’ll fight for it.”

Sadly it would not be that easy, Europe was a shattered continent.

Its problems would not be solved at the Paris Peace Conference or for many years afterward

Costs of War

Financial Toll From France to Russia homes, churches,

factories and roads had been destroyed With the war over people had come back

and started to rebuild but the cost of reconstruction hit them hard

People everywhere feel bitter about the war

Allies blamed the losers and insisted they pay reparations (war damages)

Costs of War

Political Turmoil Governments had collapsed in Russia,

Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire

Political radicals dreamed of a new social order

Conservatives warned against communism

Colonial troops realized Europe was not as strong as it looked and returned home in hopes of independence

Cost of War

Human Costs WWI lasted four years and involved

more than 30 nations Deaths numbered at 26 million

Half of them were civilians who died from disease and starvation

20 million people wounded 10 million people became refugees Economic Cost - $350 billion

End of WWI

Collapse of Germany November 13 1918 German sailors refused

to set out to sea because they believed that there was no use in fighting anymore

This sentiment spread across Germany and soon and groups of soldiers across Germany started revolutions

German war machine and economy could no longer support a war

Germany agrees to a cease-fire (Allies see it as a surrender)

Rejoicing the End of the War

The trenches erupted, men in uniforms of all colors poured out of the trenches. They threw their helmets in the air, discarded

their guns and waved their hands.

The different groups of soldiers were hesitant at first but soon they began approaching each other, dancing and

jumping

Americans were passing out cigarettes and chocolate. After four years of slaughter and

hatred they were not only hugging each other but kissing each other on both cheeks

Paris Peace Conference

Victorious Allies met at the Paris Peace Conference Discuss the fate of Europe Central Powers were not allowed to take

part

At Versailles…

Wilson tried to persuade the Allies to construct a just and lasting peace agreement

He wanted to achieve this goal by establishing the League of Nations Members would be bound to protect any

nation that was attacked by another Wilson did not anticipate rejection after

the warm “hero’s” welcome that he received

Fourteen Points

Wilson presented his plan for world peace which was outlined in his Fourteen Points Speech

Points were divided into three groups, with the first five points being the reasons that caused the war

First Five Points

Nations should only engage in open agreements. No secret treaties

Freedom of seas should exist for all Tariffs and economic barriers to trade should

be eliminated in order to foster free trade Army’s should be reduced to the lowest point

consistent with domestic safety so that militaristic impulses would lesson

Colonial policies should consider the interests of colonial people as well as the interests of the imperialist powers

Next Eight Points

Dealt with specific boundary changes National groups who claimed distinct

ethnic identities were to decide for themselves what nations they would belong to

Fourteenth Point

Creation of an international organization called the League of Nations Forum for nations to discuss and settle their

grievances without having to go to war Allies reject Wilson’s plan

Italy, France and England did not have any sympathy for the Germans

British prime minister had just won re-election with the slogan, “Make Germany pay!”

Wilson gave up on thirteen points in return for the League of Nations being accepted

Treaty of Versailles

Participants Big Four (Wilson (US), Clemenceau

(France), Lloyd George (England), Orlando (Italy))

Leaders of defeated nations Treaty of Versailles…

Established nine new nations Shifted boundaries of nations Carved four areas out of the Ottoman

Empire (Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, Jordan)

Gave these areas to GB and France

Treaty of Versailles

Treaty of Versailles… Demilitarized Germany Required Germany to pay $33 billion in

damages to the Allies (2.7 trillion today)

War Guilt Clause Germany alone was responsible for the

war

What were the points laid out by

the Treaty of

Versailles?

Weaknesses of the Treaty

Humiliation of Germany The negative treatment towards

Germany did not allow this to be a long lasting peace agreement. This weakness would provide the seeds for WWII

Exclusion of Russia from Peace Treaty Russia had been on the side of the Allies

yet they were not included in the peace treaty even though they suffered more casualties than any other nation.

Weaknesses of the Treaty

Debate over Colonial Territories Germany was stripped of its colonial

possessions which might have helped it pay its reparations to the Allies

Opposition to the Treaty

When Wilson returned to the US many thought the treaty was too harsh

Economic consequences alone will pull down all of Europe and injure the US.

Treaty was a sellout to imperialism because it just exchanged the hands of power

Biggest debate was over the League of Nations

Debate Over League of Nations

League would threaten US policy of staying clear of European entanglements

Congress did not support the idea either Wilson decided to appeal to the public

Went on an 8000 mile tour, delivered 35 speeches in 22 days explaining why the US should join the League

He collapsed during a speech and was rushed back to the White House where he suffered a stroke

Senate did not ratify the treaty

What were the weaknesses of the

Treaty of Versailles and why

were so many opposed to it?

Legacy of War

Because the Germans had censored newspapers during the war most Germanss were unaware that the Allies had been pushing their soldiers back and that even the German Generals were demanding an end to the war

Postwar economic conditions were overall bad in Europe but terrible in Germany

Many Germans looked to someone to blame.

Legacy of War

Adolf Hitler blamed the Jews and socialists

1933 Hitler wins control of the government

Most Americans did not want to be bothered by the future of Europe

War had strengthened their desire to stay out of European affairs