A Flawed Peace A conference to decide the outcomes of the war was convened in Paris Jan 1917 Although 32 countries had representatives, only the big 4 mattered (Wilson, the US President, Great Britain, France, Italy)
Woodrow Wilson His proposal included: No secret treaties Free trade Reduce armies & navies Self- determination – people decide what type of government they wish to live under
The U.S. Congress wanted to change/alter much of Wilson’s 14 Points and in the end voted against ratifying it
Woodrow Wilson, US President & Lloyd George, PM of Britain. George believed that Germany must repay all costs of war, including war pensions. Wilson believed in a world of peace and wasn’t for punishing Germany. Wilson & Clemenceau argued for almost a year. George said it was like being “…seated between Christ & Napoleon” Georges Clemenceau – French Premier. Believed in punishing Germany. Feared them & predicted trouble by 1940
German Political Cartoon It Says “As soon as we pay 100 Million marks we can eat”
All of Germany’s territories in Africa & the Pacific were declared mandates, to be administered by the League of Nations (Wilson thought colonies had no say in future so no real change)
The most important clause in the Treaty of Versailles was Article 231, which reads, " The Allied and Associated Governments affirm and Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the Allied and Associated Governments and their nationals have been subjected as a consequence of the war imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and her allies. This is known as the “war guilt” clause
President Wilson’s 14 th point was that a international body be created that would over act to protect the smaller nations, and do humanitarian efforts around the world. President Wilson’s 14 th point was that a international body be created that would over act to protect the smaller nations, and do humanitarian efforts around the world. Germany & Russia were not invited to join (Germany, obviously because she was being punished for the war, and Russia because it left the war early and now was being run by revolutionaries. Germany & Russia were not invited to join (Germany, obviously because she was being punished for the war, and Russia because it left the war early and now was being run by revolutionaries. It was never effective in stopping fighting because it didn’t have its own army. It was never effective in stopping fighting because it didn’t have its own army. It would be replaced by the United Nations after World War II It would be replaced by the United Nations after World War II
An Optimistic view about the League of Nations
Oddly, Wilson’s idea about the League of Nations wasn’t popular with the American isolationists and the U.S. never joined the League