1. Chapter 19 Section 5 Global Peacemaker

2. Path to Peace • President Wilson stood before Congress on January 8, 1918 and presented his Fourteen Points – 14 provisions that assured peace after the War • Called for Austria-Hungary’s ethnic groups to self-determination – power to make decisions about one’s own future • The Allies, however began to discard point by point • In January 1919, Wilson headed to a peace conference in Paris • Wilson wasn’t interest in spoils – rewards of war • Sought an community of power after the War • Not Wilson, but the Allies wanted to divide up Germany’s colonies – Wilson was left with no choice but to accept

3. Path to Peace (Continued) • At the peace conference, Wilson produced a plan for The League of Nations – organization in which the nations of the world would join together to ensure security and peace for all its members • Congress, however, mostly Republican, declined the proposal • In March 1919, the Allies accepted Wilson’s plan, but Wilson appeared weak without the support of Americans • The other Allies insisted on redrawing Europe (see next slide for what happened) • 9 new nations were created out of the territory of Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Russia • The Ottoman Empire was reduced to today’s Turkey while the British took control of Palestine, Transjordan, and Iraq • France took control of Syria and Lebanon

5. Peace • Wilson gave into France and Britain’s idea of crippling Germany • Insisted on Germany paying reparations – payment for economic injury suffered during the war • By 1921, Germany owed $33 billion to the Allies – they never forgot this • Allies presented the treaty to Germany on May 7, 1919 • What became known as the VersaillesTreaty – because it was signed in Versailles Palace, it was accepted on June 28, 1919

6. You’ve got to swallow it whether you like it or not ---------> The Germans are on the left, while the Big Four – France, Britain, Italy, and the US are on the right

7. Reactions at Home • Many senators opposed the treaty because it committed the US to the League of Nations • In September 1919, Wilson took to the road to raise support for the League, but 23 days in he suffered a stroke – paralyzing one half of his body • The Senate voted on the treaty but rejected it three times • On May 20, 1920 Congress voted to disregard the treaty; Wilson vetoed; Congress overturned it on July 21, 1921 under new republican President Warren G. Harding – he signed it • Congress ratified separate peace treaties with Germany, Austria, and Hungary that October

8. Postwar Adjustments • In 1922, the Senate calculated European countries owing the US $11.5 billion • This thrust the US into unexpected power • Still, the US turned away from international affairs • Returning serviceman faced readjustment to home life