1.

Treaty of Versailles The Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, at
the Palace of Versailles in Paris, marking the formal end of World War I1. The
treaty held Germany responsible for starting the war and imposed harsh
penalties on them1. These penalties included the loss of territory, massive
reparations payments, and demilitarization12.

The treaty was far from the “peace without victory” that U.S. President
Woodrow Wilson had outlined in his famous Fourteen Points in early 19181.
Instead, it humiliated Germany and failed to resolve the underlying issues that
had led to the war1. This economic distress and resentment within Germany
helped fuel the rise of Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party, as well as World War
II1.

The terms of the treaty were drawn up at the Paris Peace Conference and were
dominated by the “Big Four” leaders of the victorious Western nations—
Wilson of the United States, David Lloyd George of Great Britain, Georges
Clemenceau of France, and, to a lesser extent, Vittorio Orlando of Italy 1.

2. League of Nations The League of Nations was the first worldwide

intergovernmental organization whose principal mission was to maintain world
peace3. It was founded on January 10, 1920, by the Paris Peace Conference that
ended World War I34.

The League’s primary goals, as stated in its Covenant, included preventing

wars through collective security and disarmament and settling international
disputes through negotiation and arbitration3. Other concerns of the League
included labor conditions, just treatment of native inhabitants, human and drug
trafficking, the arms trade, global health, prisoners of war, and protection of
minorities in Europe3.

However, the League lacked its own armed force and depended on the
victorious Allies of World War I to enforce its resolutions, keep to its economic
sanctions, or provide an army when needed3. The Great Powers were often
reluctant to do so3. Sanctions could hurt League members, so they were
reluctant to comply with them3.

Despite its failures, the League of Nations profoundly shaped the modern world
and served as the template for modern global governance3. Its components were
relocated into the new United Nations when the League ceased operations on
April 20, 194634.