TREATY OF VERSAILLES:

1. TREATY OF VERSAILLES: LOSING THE PEACE

2. Taking a look back… Why did the United States enter into WWI?

3. U.S. entered into WWI because: • Economic ties to the Allies • Pro-British feeling within the U.S. (cultural connection) • German use of submarine warfare • Zimmerman Note • Idealism of the U.S. citizens • specifically…. President Wilson • turn to page 291

4. “Make the world safe for democracy…” #1 Wilson, April 1917 Also in 1917: January ~ Zimmerman Note intercepted February ~ Germany resumes unrestricted submarine warfare March ~ Moderate Revolution in Russia April ~ U.S. declares war on Germany

5. #2 & #3 1918 January ~ Wilson issues Fourteen Points as a basis for peace ~ Russia signs a treaty with Germany Nov ~ Germany surrenders on thebasis of the Fourteen Points

6. Wilson & the Fourteen Points • idealistic goal: to eliminate all causes of war • “War to end all wars” • plan for a “generous peace” at the end of the war

7. New World Order Driven by Ideals of: • Self-determination • End of colonial rivalries and colonies • Free trade • Disarmament • “fair” peace for Germany • League of Nations to oversee the “new world order” #4

8. Would the Fourteen Points have prevented further wars? Why? Why not?

9. Could Wilson have had any ulterior motives with the 14 Points? If so, what do you think they might have been??

10. Treaty of Versailles Treaty of Peace or Treaty of Vengeance?

11. “Big Four” Negotiate the Peace Treaty • Britain, France, Italy and U.S. • Wilson attends in person • other “Big Four” see Wilson as self-righteous & stubborn • Germany not allowed to negotiate • France and Britain desire Germany’s punishment #5 & 6

12. January 1919 ~ Peace Talks Begin • treaty signed in June of 1919 – 6 months later • it takes three different sets of delegates before Germany will sign • 2 of the 3 delegates who finally signed were Jewish

13. Main Issues of the peace talks • Germany’s punishment • Self determination of European ethnic groups • Wilson’s League of Nations

14. Germany’s Punishment • War guilt clause • Germany takes full responsibility • Germany stripped of colonies • Alsace and Lorraine returned to France • Reduction to German army and navy • Germany forced to pay reparations • $33 Billion

15. New Map of Europe is Drawn Attempt at Self-determination

16. #8

17. Many of Wilson’s Fourteen Points tossed aside, except… …the League of Nations! #7

18. Unfortunately… Defeated nations, the U.S.S.R., and the United States are not included.

19. Why didn’t the U.S. join if it was Wilson’s idea!?!?

20. Irreconcilables Reservationists Isolationists Didn’t want to get entangled in world politics Disliked Article 10 of the League’s covenant Opposed to treaty but for many different reasons Vague wording Article 10 • Also… • Wilson would not compromise • He would not accept any revisions to the Treaty or the League

21. Choose one historical interpretation of Wilson’s diplomacy and defend it: 1. Wilson was an idealist who took the U.S. into the war for the wrong reasons. He created unrealistic expectations and set the tone for American “idealism” for the 20th Century. 2. Wilson was a visionary, destroyed by the greed of Britain and France and the political tactics of the Republicans. 3. Wilson was a shrewd and calculating diplomat who tried to assure that the U.S. would dominate the world. 4. Wilson and the war were disasters. The U.S. should have stayed out. 5. Wilson correctly took the U.S. into war to maintain the balance of power in Europe, but ‘oversold’ the war with the Fourteen Points and the League of Nations.

22. #8 Hmmmmmm…..? Could the League have prevented further wars from happening if the U.S. had joined? Why? Why not?

23. Need to know… How were the Fourteen Points and the Versailles Treaty the same? How were they different?