Paper 1, Section B

Conflict and Tension, 1918-1939

The Treaty of Versailles

What were the aims of the 'Big Three' at the

Paris Peace Conference?
 Interleaving . . . low stakes questions.
1. When was the German Empire created? P31

2. Who was the Kaiser? P31

3. What is militarism? P31

4. What did Kaiser Wilhelm want to make

Germany?

5. What was Germany like before 1871? Pink

box p31

Challenge
6. Why did the Kaiser dislike democracy? P31
The person in charge of Germany, inherited his
position and ruled like a King.
3. What is militarism? P31
The strengthening of Germany’s military eg the
army and the navy and using it to increase
Germany’s influence.
4. What did Kaiser Wilhelm want to make
Germany?
A world power.
5. What was Germany like before 1871? Pink box
p31
Lots of small states.
Challenge
6. Why did the Kaiser dislike democracy? P31
He thought it was weak and didn’t like working
with the Reichstag. He preferred to put his
trust in the army.
World War One had devastated Europe economically, industrially and socially.
About 8 million soldiers and 8 million civilians were dead. Towns and villages
were flattened, farms were destroyed and railways had been blown up. It seemed
that the world would not be the same again. At the end of the war, the leaders of
the winning countries met to decide how to deal with the losing countries - this
would be a huge task. The leaders of the winning countries could try to seek
revenge or they could try to build a better and more peaceful world. Which way
would the discussions go?
Who do you think these
three men are?
What do you think they
are talking about?
What questions would
you like to ask them?
The three men are Woodrow Wilson
(USA), Georges Clemenceau (France)
and David Lloyd George (GB) ie The Big
Three.
 History Dictionary

Paris Peace Conference: meeting to decide what to do with countries that had lost WW1, held at the
Palace of Versailles near Paris in 1919.

World War One: 1914-1918. Fought mainly in northern France and Belgium.

The 'Big Three': representatives of the most powerful countries who met at the Paris Peace
Conference-GB, USA and France. Sometimes called the Big Four if Italy is included.

Colonies: countries under the political control of another country.

Peacemakers: the Big Three, ie the leaders deciding on how the peace should be after World War
One.
The War is over...What should be done with Germany?
Was Germany really responsible for the death and
destruction? If Germany was blamed and treated too
harshly would Germans seek revenge in the future?

YOU DECIDE!
THE MOOD IN 1919...
When the leaders of Britain, France and the USA arrived in Paris in 1919 to draw up the peace treaty...they were under
pressure from the public to deal with Germany in a very severe way.

There was a strong feeling that Germany should pay for all of the damage and destruction caused by the war.

Rank the reasons for the harsh treatment of Germany on your Hexagon Six
Diagram...
Challenge
Write around your diagram the reasons why you have ranked them in that order.
Ordinary civilians
had to cope with Germany was thought to be too
food and medicine ambitious as it had taken huge
shortages. amounts of land from Russia...it could
have done the same to France and
Britain too if they were defeated too!
Villages and large areas of
Belgium and France had been
devastated.
Economies of the
countries that fought
in the war were
exhausted.

Millions of men
had been killed Industries of the countries
or injured (on that fought in the war were
both sides). exhausted. British and French casualties
amounted to over 9 million.
The Reasons for the The Reasons for the
Harsh Treatment of Harsh Treatment of
Germany Germany
The Paris Peace Conference
In January of 1919, the winners of the 32 winning countries met at the Palace of Versailles to
discuss what should happen to Germany. The discussions were headed by the leaders of the most
powerful victorious countries: Britain, France and the USA. The leaders of these countries were
David Lloyd George (GB), Georges Clemenceau ( France) and Woodrow Wilson (USA). They were
known as 'The Big Three'.

They had different ideas about how Germany should be treated.

Task
1. Who were the Big Three and did they all
want the same thing?
The Big Three were . . .
2. What is wrong with the picture?
As you watch the clips, write down a few
ideas about what each of the 'Big Three'
wanted.

• https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FG6U9lcPnAw
• https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jg0zGgMhqFo
(Up to 4 mins 30)
Challenge
1.Who do you think had the most realistic attitude towards the
way that Germany should be dealt with. Explain your answer.
2. Do you think that treating Germany harshly at this stage ,
could lead to another war? Explain your answer.
 The Big Three (green)
Leader Country What did did they think of Germany and why? Main aim

Clemenceau Stuck? Think about where the fighting had taken place and what had Stuck? What did Clemenceau want to do to Germany and
been destroyed. What had happened twice during Clemenceau’ s life? why?

Lloyd George Stuck? Think about when the USA joined the war and why it had Stuck? Mention peace and the fact that Germany should
made money. Did the USA want revenge on Germany? not be treated too harshly. Fourteen Points.

Wilson Stuck? Think about trade, fact that Lloyd George had said that he Stuck? Think about compromise ie he wanted Germany to
would ‘make Germany pay’. What was Loyd George cautious? be punished but. . . .
Clemenceau
 1. Explain what France thought of Germany and why in the third column along in the table.

Over two thirds of men that had served in the French army had been killed or
injured – the war affected almost an entire generation. Lots of the fighting
had taken place in north eastern France and the Germans had destroyed
many mines, railways, factories, bridges and farmland.To many French
people, Germany was still a powerful and intimidating nation. France had
felt threatened by the power of Germany since 1870. In fact, France had
been invaded by Germany twice during Clemenceau's lifetime, in 1871 and 1914.
Also, public opinion in France was demanding that Germany be crushed, the
French wanted revenge.

2. Main aims at the Paris Peace Conference-write these in the fourth column on the table.

Clemenceau was the Prime Minister of France. He saw the talks at the
Paris Peace Conference as an opportunity to cripple Germany so that it
could not attack France again. The French President wanted Germany
broken up in to a number of smaller states but Clemenceau knew that the
British and Americans would not agree to that. He was realistic and knew
he would have to compromise on some issues...but he had to listen to public
opinion in France and wanted a treaty that would damage Germany as much
as possible! Clemenceau wanted Germany to have its armed forces cut
and the German border to be pushed back to the Rhine in eastern
Germany so that France was less vulnerable to attack.
Wilson
 1. Explain what the USA thought of Germany and why in the third column along in the table.

At first the USA stayed out of the war and when it did join in 1917, there
was no fighting on American soil. The USA made lots of money selling
weapons to the British and the French and saw no need for revenge on
10.The countries of Eastern Europe should rule
Germany . Wilson drew up 14 points to help end the war fairly and to
themselves.
11.Serbia to have access to the sea
prevent further wars arising. For example, establishing the League of
12.People in the Turkish Empire able to govern Nations, no secret treaties, free trade between countries and all countries
themselves. to work towards disarmament (getting rid of weapons).
13.Poland to become an independent state.
14.League of Nations to be set up
2. Main aims at the Paris Peace Conference-write these in the fourth column on the table.

Wilson was the idealist of the three leaders, this means that some people thought he was a
1. No secret treaties
2.Free access to the seas in war or peacetime
3.Free trade between countries
4.All countries to work towards disarmament
5.Colonies to have a say in their future
6.German troops to leave Russia
7.Independence for Belgium
8.France to regain the Alsace-Lorraine region
'dreamer' and not very practical. He wanted to make a peaceful world after the war where
everyone would be treated fairly. Although Wilson wanted world peace, he still believed
that Germany needed to be punished but he thought the treaty should not be too hard.
He believed that if Germany was treated harshly, one day it would want revenge! He
wanted to strengthen democracy so the people of Germany would never allow another war. He
also wanted nations to run themselves and not be ruled by other countries, this is called
self determination. He also suggested a world parliament called the League of Nations
where countries could work and trade together. In fact, Wilson had lots of ideas for a
better world. These are called the Fourteen Points.
Lloyd George
1. Explain what GB thought of Germany and why in the third column along in the table.

Before the war, Germany was Britain’s second largest trading partner and had
created lots of jobs for people. Britain was missing out economically by not
trading with Germany. At the same time, a pressure group called the British
Empire Union (BEU) was campaigning for people only to buy British goods. Britain at
this point still had a large Empire. Lloyd George had been elected because he
promised to 'make Germany pay'. Many young British men had died in the
trenches and many of the British people wanted revenge. Lloyd George was
cautious, he wanted Germany to have enough power not to want revenge and to
trade with GB but not enough to threaten GB. He also had to keep the people
at home happy.

2. Main aims at the Paris Peace Conference-write these in the fourth column on the table.

David Lloyd George was the British Prime Minister. He was a realist and knew there
would have to be compromise. He often occupied the middle ground between
Clemenceau and Wilson. He wanted Germany to be punished but not too harshly.
He wanted Germany to lose its Navy and its colonies because it threatened the
power of the British Empire and he hoped to take control of German colonies. But
like Wilson, Lloyd George was also wary of Germany wanting revenge in the future
and another war having to be fought. Lloyd George wanted to keep Germany quite
strong so that Great Britain could trade with it and it would stop other countries in
Europe being too powerful.
Why did the Big Three have
different aims?
Were the Big Three being fair?
Starter Quiz
1. Who were the Big Three (name countries that get came from too)?
2. Who can be added to make it the Big Four?
3. When was World War One?
4. In what state had World War One left parts of northern France?
5. What was the Paris Peace Conference?
6. What are colonies?
7. What did Clemenceau want from the Paris Peace Conference?
8. What did Wilson want from the Paris Peace Conference?
9. What did the people of France want from the Paris Peace Conference?
10. What was the name of the most important Treaty that was signed during
the Paris Peace Conference?
Starter Quiz
1. Who were the Big Three (name countries that get came from too)?
Georges Clemenceau (France), Woodrow Wilson (USA), David Lloyd George (GB).
2. Who can be added to make it the Big Four?
Vittorio Orlando (Italy).
3. When was World War One?
1914-1918
4. In what state had World War One left parts of northern France?
Destroyed; mines, railways, factories, bridges, farmland, villages and towns had been annihilated.
5. What was the Paris Peace Conference?
Meeting held at the Palace of Versailles (just outside Paris) to decide what to do with the countries that lost WW1, 1919.
6. What are colonies?
Countries under the political control of another country.
7. What did Clemenceau want from the Paris Peace Conference?
Security for France; Germany weakened so much that it wouldn't be able to invade again.
8. What did Wilson want from the Paris Peace Conference?
Germany to be treated fairly; a just and lasting peace. He was an idealist.
9. What did the people of France want from the Paris Peace Conference?
Revenge.
10. What was the name of the most important peace treaty that was signed during the Paris Peace Conference?
The Treaty of Versailles.
Were the Big Three being Fair?
 Write an account of how the Big Three
disagreed at the Paris Peace Conference (8
marks)
Email your answers to gunnh@bishopperowne.co.uk
Reevev@bishopperowne.co.uk