The Treaty of Versailles & The

Failure of the WWI Peace

 What role did the US play in the
end of World War I?
  As a result of its role in
World War I, the United
States emerged as a
dominant global power.
–  Economic
–  Military
–  Political

  President Woodrow
Wilson wanted to limit
future conflicts
–  Fourteen Points
Examples of Wilson’s Fourteen
Points
Freedom of the Seas End secret alliances

Reduction of arms Respect for National

Self Determination
Fair adjustment of A League of Nations
colonies
 Two Armed Camps!
Allied Powers: Central Powers:
 What influenced Wilson about
the war? !

  Total casualties: 37 million"

–  Total killed in WWI: 10-11
million"
–  1 in 8 young men in France
died "
–  62% of all European men
fought at some point in the war."
–  Total wounded in WWI: 30
million"

  Total amount spent directly on the

war: $180 billion "
Destruction of World War I
The Death Toll of World War I
Other “Casualties” of World War I
Great Britain, America and France were the three most
powerful Allies and they wanted to exert their influence upon
the Treaty of Versailles (“Big Three”)

Yet they wanted different things…

David
Lloyd George
Wilson

George
Clemenceau

 Lloyd George (UK)

• Germany to be justly punished,

but not too harshly

• Germany to lose its navy and

colonies as these were a threat
to Britain's own navy and empire

• Germany and Britain to become

trading partners

BUT Overall, Lloyd George did not want to punish Germany too harshly
as he did not want Germany seeking revenge in the future

 Clemenceau (France)

•  to cripple Germany so it
couldn't attack France again.

• Wanted Germany broken down

into smaller states (weakened).

France had suffered the most

during the war so Clemenceau
was under great pressure from
the French people to make
Germany pay.
 Wilson (USA)

•  a better and more peaceful world

•  a League of Nations that would help

and support each other and help to
promote world peace

•  the right to self-determination. The

right to decide which country you wish
to be governed by

The U.S.A. had joined war late (1917) and

hadn't suffered as much as the other Allies in
terms of human and material costs.
So what did all these competing
world leader come up with in the
end?

Let’s take a look!!!

Germany had to accept
total responsibility for
starting the First World War.

this was called the War Guilt

Clause or Article 231.
Germany had to pay million in
reparations to cover war
damages and other Allied
losses.

These were called “war

reparations”
Germany had to hand over
some 70,000 square
kilometres of land.
This accounted for about 13%
of all of her land and six
million of her people who
lived there.
17

Europe 1914 When War Began
Europe after the Treaty of Versailles
Germany was to have her
colonies taken away from her.
These colonies were to
become mandates run by the
Allies on behalf of the
League of Nations
(“mandates”).
The German army was to
have no more than 100,000
men and the navy was limited
to 15,000 sailors.

There was to be no airforce

and no submarines.
The German navy was only
allowed six battleships and
Germany was forbidden to
buy any more weapons and
other war material.

An Allied Army was to occupy
the Rhineland for a period
of fifteen years.

No German troops were to be

allowed into the occupation
zone.
Germany also gets a new
“democracy” government to
help prevent future dictators /
wars…very weak…

This is known as the Weimar

Republic
The Treaty also created an
international organization to
oversee that no future wars
started & all aspects of the
Treaty were followed

The League of Nations

Not to Be Confused…
What was the League
of Nations?
  Internationalalliance for the preservation of peace,
with headquarters at Geneva
  League existed from 1920 to 1946
  First meeting was held in Geneva, on Nov. 15,
1920, with 42 nations represented
  Last meeting was held on April 8, 1946
  During the last meeting, the league was superseded
by the United Nations (UN)
Palace of Justice
 29

The first meeting of the Assembly in 1920
30

What were the positive aspects of
the League of Nations?
  A few…
–  Open dialogue &
discussion for nations
–  “Talk over war”
–  “Mutual protection”
–  Platform for addressing
global issues

  Wilson had hoped this

would be a force for good
& peace in the world
What negative aspects came out
of the League of Nations?
  Many…
–  No lasting peace plan
–  Disliked by many
nations (Germany)
–  Did not acknowledge
other cultures / groups
–  “Not peace, but
revenge”
–  “No backbone” = US
never joined
Germany Anger Towards Treaty
A missing piece?
US Senate Fails to Pass the Treaty
US Senate: NO LEAGUE FOR YOU!!!!
Wilson’s Failing Health
What was the lasting impact of the Treaty
of Versailles / The League of Nations?

  The Treaty & the

League of Nations
failed to stop future
conflict
–  Made future wars
unavoidable

  Wilson’s vision for

peace not realized
until much later…