World War I World War I Comes to an Comes to an

EndEnd

A Flawed PeaceA Flawed Peace

January 1919January 1919 27 countries27 countries Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles Lasted 5 monthsLasted 5 months Big Four: US, France, Italy, BritainBig Four: US, France, Italy, Britain Russia not invited to conference – Russia not invited to conference –

others refused to recognize this as a others refused to recognize this as a legitimate governmentlegitimate government

Fourteen PointsFourteen Points

Wilson believed this would bring Wilson believed this would bring lasting peacelasting peace

““The principle of justice to all people The principle of justice to all people and nationalities”and nationalities”

First 5: eliminate the causes of war First 5: eliminate the causes of war through free trade, freedom of the through free trade, freedom of the seas, disarmament and impartial seas, disarmament and impartial adjustment of colonial claims, open adjustment of colonial claims, open diplomacy diplomacy

Fourteen PointsFourteen Points

Next 8 points: National Self Next 8 points: National Self DeterminationDetermination

Borders should be based on Borders should be based on ethnicity and national identifyethnicity and national identify

No nation can keep territory No nation can keep territory taken from another nationtaken from another nation

1414thth Point – League of Nations Point – League of Nations

Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles

Wilson was popular in EuropeWilson was popular in Europe Was willing to give up some of Was willing to give up some of

14 points to get the League of 14 points to get the League of NationsNations

Other Allied Powers wanted to Other Allied Powers wanted to punish Germanypunish Germany

Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles

Treaty included many terms to Treaty included many terms to weaken Germanyweaken Germany

Army forces were greatly reduced Army forces were greatly reduced in sizein size

Germany was not allowed to put Germany was not allowed to put troops west of the Rhine Rivertroops west of the Rhine River

Treaty blamed Germany for the Treaty blamed Germany for the warwar

Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles

When Germany signed the treaty When Germany signed the treaty they admitted they were they admitted they were responsible for the warresponsible for the war

Reparations – made Germany Reparations – made Germany pay for damages during the war pay for damages during the war

Would keep Germany’s economy Would keep Germany’s economy weak for a long timeweak for a long time

Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles Wilson had some success with self-Wilson had some success with self-

determinationdetermination Four empires were dismantled Four empires were dismantled Austro-Hungarian Empire, Russian Austro-Hungarian Empire, Russian

Empire, German Empire, Ottoman Empire, German Empire, Ottoman EmpireEmpire

9 new nations: Austria, Czechoslovakia, 9 new nations: Austria, Czechoslovakia, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and YugoslaviaLithuania, Poland and Yugoslavia

Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles

Many of Wilson’s 14 points were Many of Wilson’s 14 points were left out of treatyleft out of treaty

He did achieve his primary goal He did achieve his primary goal though and the League of though and the League of Nations was includedNations was included

Senate Rejects TreatySenate Rejects Treaty

Need 2/3s of Senate to sign Need 2/3s of Senate to sign TreatyTreaty

Senate was now RepublicanSenate was now Republican Irreconcilables – opposition to Irreconcilables – opposition to

treaty, no matter whattreaty, no matter what Reservationists – willing to Reservationists – willing to

support if some changes to support if some changes to League of Nations were madeLeague of Nations were made

Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles

Reservationists were worried that Reservationists were worried that they would be forced to war without they would be forced to war without Congress’ consentCongress’ consent

Congress never signed treatyCongress never signed treaty When Wilson left office the US When Wilson left office the US

negotiated peace with each Central negotiated peace with each Central PowerPower

League of Nations existed, just League of Nations existed, just without the USwithout the US