The Treaty of Versailles

Wilson’s Fourteen Points Wilson’s plan for peace was the Fourteen Points. It was designed to protect every peace-loving nation and peoples from aggression First goal was to eliminate the causes of war End to secret agreements End to the web of alliances Freedom of the seas Europeans countries to reduce their armaments – weapon stockpiles Second goal was to ensure the right to self-determination for ethnic groups so they could control their own political future. Most critical of his Fourteen Points was the League of Nations.

League Of Nations Leaders included a charter for the League of Nations in the final version of the Treaty. Member nations would agree to protect one another’s independence and territorial integrity. League of Nations would maintain peace by providing collective security. Commitment by many countries to join together to deal with a nation that threatens peace.

Europeans Vision of Peace Big Four – President Wilson, Prime Ministers: David Lloyd George (GB), Georges Clemenceau (France), and Vittorio Orlando (Italy) met at the Palace of Versailles France wanted to weaken Germany to the point that it could never threaten France again. German Army be reduced to 100,000 men Great Britain demanded that Germany accepted responsibility for starting the war. Wanted Germany to pay $33 billion in reparations to the Allies to offset the cost of war. Argued that the U.S. would benefit because the Allies would be able to repay American banks that were used to finance the war.

Debate on the Home Front In order for the Treaty to be approved in the US, Congress must agree to it. Congress was divided into three factions: Reservationists – would vote yes but only with a number of changes to it. Irreconcilables – No vote was certain Internationalists – Agreed with the treaty

Election of 1920 The Election of 1920 became a Referendum on the Treaty. Democrats nominated James Cox of Ohio and the Republicans nominated Warren Harding. The Republican, Warren Harding, will win in a landslide, causing Congress to have more Republicans, effectively killing the Treaty of Versailles. The U.S. will sign a separate peace treaty with Germany in 1921.