Lesson Objectives To understand the attitudes of the “Big 3” towards Germany after World War I To explain the terms of the Treaty of Versailles To evaluate whether the Treaty of Versailles was fair Disarmament: The Treaty of Versailles

What, when, & why?

What do Remembrance Day and a train have in common? You have 1 minute to discuss with your partner what might “link” Remembrance Day and train.

The Armistice was signed: 5:12 – 5:20am, 11 November 1918, in a railway carriage in Compiegne, France. Guns to stop 6 hours later: 11am, 11/11/1918.

Key Words: Treaty = a formal written agreement between two or more states Reparation = pay for damage caused Re-conquer = get back Vengeance = revenge Key Words: Treaty = a formal written agreement between two or more states Reparation = pay for damage caused Re-conquer = get back Vengeance = revenge Armistice = an end to fighting

Paris Peace Conference When the Armistice was signed on 11th November, 1918, it was agreed that there would be a Peace Conference held in Paris to discuss what would happen to the defeated powers. Opened on 12th January 1919, meetings were held at various locations in and around Paris until 20th January, The Treaty of Versailles dealt with Germany. Leaders of 32 states representing about 75% of the world's population, attended. However, negotiations were dominated by “The Big 3”.

Woodrow Wilson USA Lloyd George GB Georges Clemenceau FR The Big 3 were the 3 countries who had the most bargaining power.

January 1919, Versailles Palace. You are one of the ‘Big Three’: Representing Britain... Prime Minister, David Lloyd George! Representing France... President, Georges Clemenceau! Representing the United States of America... President Woodrow Wilson! And also...the German representatives.

Role Play Task; Negotiating The Treaty You will be given a role card as a representative of one of the countries at the Paris Peace Conference. Your first task is to read your role card – in silence. There are 4 flags dotted around the room. Go to the flag which represents your country to meet with other representatives from your country. Discuss with the other representatives from your country what you want from the treaty. You will only have a few minutes and you need to come up with 5 bullet points of what you want! Write the 5 bullet points on the piece of paper underneath your flag.

Role Play Task; Negotiating the Treaty Return to your places and your original group. Now that you have decided on what your country wants, you need to negotiate in order to get it. There are 6 key areas in which you will need to decide what happens. Remember you will have to compromise on some things to get other things that you want. All of the 3 negotiators need to agree on the Treaty before they sign it. The German representatives – can observe, and must sign, but cannot participate.

Topic What we decided (in lesson) What was actually decided (in 1919) Was the Treaty of Versailles fair? Guilt – who is to blame? Armies – should armies be made smaller? Reparations - who should pay for all of the damage, and how much? Who should own areas of land like Alsace- Lorraine and the Rhineland? League of Nations? – how to prevent future wars? Extra points? - Germany and Austria?

How did you do? We are going to compare your treaty with the real Treaty of Versailles. Complete the 2 nd column on your worksheet “What was actually decided”.

The Treaty of Versailles – GARGLE! Guilt – Germany accepted full blame for the war -- the ‘War Guilt Clause’, Article Germany rejected it as too harsh Army – army 100,000 men, no submarines, no aeroplanes, 6 battleships Reparations – £6.6 billion (£217 billion in 2011!) Germany lost land – e.g. Alsace-Lorraine to France Germany kept Rhineland, but had to stay demilitarised. League of Nations set up Extra points – banned from union with Austria

Reflection Look back at the column we have completed. Do you think that the Treaty of Versailles was fair? Put a tick or a cross in the 3 rd column for each of the 6 areas we have looked at. Add up how many ticks and crosses you have. Do you think the Treaty of Versailles was fair? Explain why you think this. CHALLENGE: Do not use “I”, “me”, or “my” in your explanation. Evaluation

Source Analysis; What can cartoons tell us about the Treaty of Versailles?

A German cartoon; ‘When we have paid one hundred billion marks then I can give you something to eat‘. Source Analysis; What can cartoons tell us about the Treaty of Versailles?

Have we achieved our Lesson Objectives? To understand the attitudes of the “Big 3” towards Germany after World War I To explain the terms of the Treaty of Versailles To evaluate whether the Treaty of Versailles was fair THUMBS UPTHUMBS DOWN

Representatives from Germany

5 things we want from the Treaty are… 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

Representatives from Britain

5 things we want from the Treaty are… 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

Representatives from France

5 things we want from the Treaty are… 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

Representatives from USA

5 things we want from the Treaty are… 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)