What were problems with the Treaty of Versailles? A Flawed Peace What were problems with the Treaty of Versailles?
Paris Peace Conference The PPC begins in January of 1919 The big four goals: 1) Woodrow Wilson - USA 2) Lloyd George – Great Britain Wants lasting peace! Punish Germany! 1)Fourteen Points 1)German reparations a)Self determination 2)Weaken German Army b)League of Nations 3) Central Powers should lose territory 4) Vittorio Orlando - Italy 3) Georges Clemenceau - France Get Anything! 1)Want land from Austria-Hungary Get Revenge! 1)Blame Germany for war 2)Take back territory 3) German reparations
Pres. Wilson’s Fourteen Points First Five Points End of secret treaties Freedom of seas and trade Reduced armies and navies Address colonial claims 6-13 Change borders and set up new nations Self determination [people choose type of gov’t for own country] 14th Point Organization to peacefully negotiate international conflicts
Some countries not invited to Paris: German Republic Austria-Hungary Ottoman Empire Why? need to blame Germans Why? Country to be broken up Why? Will also be broken up – British want Mid East Lenin & Russia Colonies seeking Independence Why? Traitor & don’t like communists! Nationalist leaders not invited or asked to leave
The Treaty of Versailles France and GB want to punish Germany - blamed for deaths and destruction - national security issues w/ Germany in future ??? War Guilt Germany must sign a war guilt clause sole responsibility for war Reparations ($) Germany pays $33 billion over 30 years Military Restrictions Germany must reduce army, no new weapons or U-boats 14th Point League of Nations is formed US does not sign T of V concerned w/ being committed to Euro issues
Treaty of Versailles – Self Determination Germany Loses land to France Loses land to Poland & Czechoslovakia Loses ALL African & Asian colonies Austria-Hungary Land goes to: Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Yugoslavia (mts to Italy) Ottoman Empire 1)Can keep Turkey 2) Middle East split between Britain & France Russia (due to Treaty of Brest-Litovsk) Loss land to Poland. Finland & three Baltic States gain independence