1. Wilson Fights for Peace

2. Objectives Summarize Wilson’s Fourteen Points
Describe the Treaty of Versailles and international and domestic reactions to it
Explain some of the consequences of the war

3. Wilson Presents His Plan
There should be no secret treaties among nations
Freedom of the seas should be maintained for all
Tariffs and other economic barriers among nations should be lowered or abolished in order to foster free trade
Arms should be reduced “to the lowest point consistent with domestic safety, thus lessening the possibility of military responses” during diplomatic crises
Colonial policies should consider the interests of the colonial people as well as the interests of the imperialist powers
Fourteen Points
Delivered in front of Congress
Divided into 3 groups
1st 5 Wilson believed they had to be address to prevent another war
Other 8 dealt with boundary changes

4. Wilson Presents His Plan
Fourteen Points (cont.)
The Allies Reject Wilson’s Plan
League of Nations
Forum of nations to discuss and settle their grievances without having to resort to war
French Premier
Georges Clemenceau
British Prime Minister
“Make Germany pay”
David Lloyd George
Italian Prime Minister
Austro-Hungarian land
Vittorio Orlando

5. Wilson Presents His Plan
The Allies Reject Wilson’s Plan (cont.)
Central Powers were not included in the negotiations
Nor Russia
Nor smaller countries
“The Big Four”
United States – Wilson
Clemenceau – France
George – Great Britain
Orlando – Italy

6. Debating the Treaty of Versailles
Provisions of the Treaty
Treaty of Versailles
Germany
Created 9 new nations
Poland
$33,000,000,000
in reparations
Czechoslovakia
Yugoslavia
Shifted boundaries
No air force
No more than a 100,000 man army
Carved up the Ottoman Empire
Britain
No more than 100,000 tons in naval vessels
No submarines
France

7. Debating the Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty’s Weaknesses
War-guilt clause
Humiliated Germany
Admit sole responsibility for the war
The war debt was unpayable
Would be paying it off until 2010
Stripped of profitable colonies
Took territory from Russia (USSR)
Ignored Asian and colonial rights
Sowed the seeds of resentment

8. Debating the Treaty of Versailles
Opposition to the Treaty
Debate Over the League of Nations
Too harsh
Economic backlash
Sell out to colonialism
Self rule not satisfied
Poland/Germany
The League of Nations
Threatened U.S. isolationism
Joint economic and military action
Congress’s ability to declare war

9. Debating the Treaty of Versailles
Wilson Refuses to Compromise
American delegation has no Republicans
3 week – 8,000 miles – 34 speeches
Ill health – stroke
Senate fails to ratify the treaty in 1919 and 1920
1921 – US signs a separate treaty with Germany

10. The Legacy of the War Political instability Rise of communism
United States
Europe
“a return to normalcy”
US military and government had became very powerful
Moved social advancements
Lasting fears/untrusting
Political instability
Rise of communism
Russia
Rise of fascism
Italy
Spain
Germany

11. What were Wilson’s Fourteen Points
What were Wilson’s Fourteen Points? Why did the Allies reject Wilson’s peace plan?

12. What were the main provisions of the Treaty of Versailles
What were the main provisions of the Treaty of Versailles? What were some weaknesses of the Treaty? How did Americans react to the Treaty? Why did the Americans disagree about the League of Nations?

13. Why did Germany object to the Treaty of Versailles
Why did Germany object to the Treaty of Versailles? How did the war affect Germany? How did the war affect U.S. power and prestige in the world?