1. Chapter 19 Section 5
Global Peacemaker

2. Path to Peace
President Wilson stood before Congress on January 8, 1918 and presented his Fourteen Points – 14 provisions that assured peace after the War
Called for Austria-Hungary’s ethnic groups to self-determination – power to make decisions about one’s own future
The Allies, however began to discard point by point
In January 1919, Wilson headed to a peace conference in Paris
Wilson wasn’t interest in spoils – rewards of war
Sought an community of power after the War
Not Wilson, but the Allies wanted to divide up Germany’s colonies – Wilson was left with no choice but to accept

3. Path to Peace (Continued)
At the peace conference, Wilson produced a plan for The League of Nations – organization in which the nations of the world would join together to ensure security and peace for all its members
Congress, however, mostly Republican, declined the proposal
In March 1919, the Allies accepted Wilson’s plan, but Wilson appeared weak without the support of Americans
The other Allies insisted on redrawing Europe (see next slide for what happened)
9 new nations were created out of the territory of Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Russia
The Ottoman Empire was reduced to today’s Turkey while the British took control of Palestine, Transjordan, and Iraq
France took control of Syria and Lebanon

5. Peace Wilson gave into France and Britain’s idea of crippling Germany
Insisted on Germany paying reparations – payment for economic injury suffered during the war
By 1921, Germany owed $33 billion to the Allies – they never forgot this
Allies presented the treaty to Germany on May 7, 1919
What became known as the Versailles Treaty – because it was signed in Versailles Palace, it was accepted on June 28, 1919

6. You’ve got to swallow it whether you like it or not --------->
The Germans are on the left, while the Big Four – France, Britain, Italy, and the US are on the right

7. Reactions at Home
Many senators opposed the treaty because it committed the US to the League of Nations
In September 1919, Wilson took to the road to raise support for the League, but 23 days in he suffered a stroke – paralyzing one half of his body
The Senate voted on the treaty but rejected it three times
On May 20, 1920 Congress voted to disregard the treaty; Wilson vetoed; Congress overturned it on July 21, 1921 under new republican President Warren G. Harding – he signed it
Congress ratified separate peace treaties with Germany, Austria, and Hungary that October

8. Postwar Adjustments
In 1922, the Senate calculated European countries owing the US $11.5 billion
This thrust the US into unexpected power
Still, the US turned away from international affairs
Returning serviceman faced readjustment to home life