Emily Gong

AP US History
Period 2
December 4, 2007
Chapter 23: America and the Great War
DQ #5: Compare Wilson’s original Fourteen Points to the final version of the Versailles Treaty. How does this
Treaty reflect idealism being challenged by realism? How successful will the Treaty be in developing “a new world
order”?
I. Highlights of Wilson’s Fourteen Points vs. Versailles Treaty
Wilson’s Fourteen Points (January 1918) Treaty of Versailles (June 1919)
• Recognition of freedom of seas • Germany- stripped of its colonies in Asia & Africa
• an end to practice of making secret treatiesinstead • Germany- guilty for causing war
open covenants • French occupation in Rhineland for 15 years
• free trade • Germany- pay 9 million dollars in reparations to Great
• Reduction of national armaments Britain & France
• An impartial adjustment of all colonial claims • Independence granted to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania,
• self-determination for various nationalities within the Finland & Poland
Austro-Hungarian empire and Ottoman Empire • creation of new nations Czechoslovakia & Yugoslavia
• A league of nations that would help resolve future • Signers of treaty join international peacekeeping
tensions among countries organization, League of Nations – Article X of charter of
• other four points- adjusting post-war boundaries & new League- call for each member nation to protect
nations within defunct A. Hungarian & Ottoman independence and territorial rights of other nations
 Wilson had to give up most of his Fourteen Points- only 3 of the original 14 points to be recognized by the European
nations. Several points modified, like the ‘self-determination’ policy. Others -total rejection, such as the recognition of
freedom of the seas and open covenants.
 Wilson’s major accomplishment: League of Nations.
 Instead of a triumph for ‘peace without victory’, Germany still had to compensate for its role in the war.
II. Idealism Challenged by Realism
Comparison between U.S.’s Aim (Wilson’s 14 points) w/ the Other Countries
France’s Aim - Georges Clemenceau- The ‘4 Rs’ Great Britain’s Aim- Lloyd George
• Return of Alsace- Lorraine to Francetaken by Germany • defend British interest by preserving British naval
in Franco-Prussian War supremacy- threatened by Germany
• Ruin of Germany- advocate reparations & permanent • (like France) reduce military power & obtain reparations
disassembling of German army- guarantee German frailty • avoid a powerful Germany in future, yet also to avoid
• Revenge for damage done by Germany- avenge bloodshed France becoming superpower
(1.7 million dead) & territorial damage ( most of war • also wanted reparations from Germany
fought on French soil)- enforce on Germany policies to
cripple it economically, politically, & militantly
• Reparation, compensation for damage Germany did
Shattering of Wilsonianism- idealism in international relations
• disliked Wilson’s ‘self-determination’ policywanted to keep own colonies in addition to possible German ones
• freedom of the seas- France & G. Britain- both strongly supported a naval blockade on GermanyFrance: control imports in
Germany (devastate German trade); G. Britain: growing reliance on British goods (Germany- Britain’s 2nd largest trade partner)
• support for secret treaties--- cannot accept Wilson’s point on open covenants
• Wilson’s idealistic “Peace without Victory”incomprehensible by the other nationsdevastating causalities
III. “A New World Order”?---Success Minimal
A. Major Countries Represented at January 18th~ June 1919 Negotiations
• Great Britain, France, Japan, United States, Italy
• Germany & Russia excluded---no voicetwo major players not included in League of Nations
B. Negotiations
• until March 1919- mainly decided by Council of Ten (Japan, G. Britain, France, U.S., Italy)
• After---decisions made by the Big Four (G.Britain, France, Italy, U.S.)- many other nations’ foreign ministers left
• Italy then left also b/c of rejection to discuss terms about claims to Fiumeall decisions made by ‘Big Three’
• satisfied none of the nations’ aims compromises based on ideals of three major powersGermany & Russia- no
part in this
• American dismissalvoted down by Senate---League might interfere w/ US sovereignty & allow Euro. nations to
interfere in Western Hemisphere (violation of Monroe Doctrine)
CONCLUSION: The large difference between the Wilson’s Fourteen Points and the final treaty of Versailles clearly showed
the great animosity towards Germany from leading powers like Great Britain and France. Wilson’s idealism was harshly
 undermined in the negotiations that followed the armistice, as it was challenged by France’s vengeful determination and
Britain’s support of reparations for war losses. The treaty, though a peace treaty, was not effective due to Germany’s and
Russia’s lack of representations during the treaty-making and the severe compensation that Germany was forced to pay, and,
if conflicts were not resolved, could possibly lead the world into yet another catastrophic struggle between nations.