World War I Treaty of Versailles

America in the War Duration- 18 months Impact- psychological boost after Russia left troops, supplies, and morale Doughboys- AEF Major US Battles- Summer 1918- Chateau Thierry Belleau Wood Meuse- Argonne Offensive- largest of the war

Results of WWI Death Destruction Debt / Depression Despair 10 million dead, 21 million wounded Wiped out a “generation” Great Influenza epidemic Destruction Loss of agriculture and industry Debt / Depression Taxes increased to pay cost of war; trade down, so tariffs rise Economic hardship for Europe… political chaos Despair Insecurity and loss of ideals Democracy/ Dictatorships US as world power Many new countries in Europe

Fourteen Points Wilson’s peace plan Deal with causes to achieve peace and democracy No secret treaties Freedom of the seas Reduction of arms (consistent with security) Recognize colonial rights – self determination Break up Austria Hungary– self determination Polish Corridor No one blamed, no one held responsible League of Nations for collective security and cooperation

Armistice Day Date: 11/ 11/ 18 Armistice: Germans accept believing 14 Points would be the basis for a peace treaty

Paris Peace Conference January, 1919- May, 1919 at Versailles Big Four Wilson- first president to Europe while in office Brought little staff, no Secretary of State Did most of the negotiating Got sick (Spanish Flu) and yielded to Clemenceau George Clemenceau- France David Lloyd-George- Britain Vittorio Orlando- Italy

Paris Peace Conference Issues Wilson- 14 Points… PEACE Will do anything to keep the League of Nations Allies- REVENGE Punish Germany Reparations Colonies/ territories National security Arms reductions Buffer states Stop communism

Paris Peace Conference Losers: German and Russia Not invited to the Conference Treated like a defeated enemy Treated like they started it

Treaty of Versailles A victor’s peace Germany Discontent with Treaty… Hall of Mirrors Germany 1. Territories- Article 119 (c0lonies,) Article 51 (territory) 2. Military- Article 159 3. War Guilt- Article 231 4. Reparations- Article 233- $33 billion… August ‘10! Discontent with Treaty…

Ratification Problems 1918 Midterms: Reps win control of Congress Failure to consult senators Henry Cabot Lodge- Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Failure to est. bipartisan peace delegation Leading Republicans were not invited to Paris Seems one sided Democrats “responsible” for the peace

Ratification Problems Failure to accept compromises and amendments Reservationists oppose the League of Nations and want the treaty amended Stay out of world affairs; worried about European influence if we join War powers, military strength, expense of League actions Failure of Wilson’s health Stroke while on speech tour… best we could get! Failure to ratify the Treaty Can’t get the 2/3 needed to ratify US doesn’t join League of Nations US signs a separate treaty in 1921!