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The treaty was signed on June 28th 1919 after months of argument and negotiation amongst the so-called "Big Three" as to what the treaty should contain. The "Big Three" were David Lloyd George of Britain, Clemenceau of France and Woodrow Wilson of America.
George Clemenceau
George Clemenceau of France had one very simple belief: Germany should be brought to its knees so that she could never start war again. This reflected the views of the French public, but it was also what Clemenceau himself believed in. He had seen the north-east corner of France destroyed and he determined that Germany should never be allowed to do this again. The Tiger did not have to adapt his policies to suit the French Public, since the French Leader and the French public both thought alike.
Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson was an idealist and was genuinely stunned by the savagery and destruction of WWI. He felt the need to ensure that this NEVER happened again. Furthermore, the American public felt Europe should be left to its own devices and America should keep its involvement there to a minimum. As such, Wilson believed: Germany should be punished, but NOT harshly. Reconciliation should be emphasized over revenge There should be NO more secret treaties, i.e. end the alliance system End of militarism: Countries should seek to reduce their weapons and armed forces Self-determination: People of the same nationality should be allowed to govern themselves. One nationality should not have the rule another. (Ironically, Wilson did not feel this should apply to the U.S., i.e. the Philippines.) All countries should belong to a League of Nations, which would give the world an avenue to solve conflicts peacefully.
Issue #1: Blame The Allies chose option 1, blaming Germany for starting World War I.
100,000
Issue #4Colonies The Allies chose option 2 Germany lost ALL of her overseas colonies to Britain and France.
Posen was given to Poland so that she would have access to the Baltic Sea. This area became known as the Polish Corridor. It meant that East Prussia was cut off from the rest of Germany.
Issues # 10 & 11Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia & Czechoslovakia The Allies made them independent nations