A Flawed Peace Ch.29 Section 4

Legacy of the War War takes heavy toll: 8.5 million soldiers dead, 21 million wounded. War devastates European economies and drains national treasuries. Many acres of land and homes, villages, towns are destroyed Survivors suffer disillusionment and despair; reflected in the arts and literature. Peace agreement, which was sought to bring a new sense of security and peace, prompted mainly anger and resentment.

Allies Meet At Versailles On Jan. 18, 1919, a conference to establish peace was held at the Palace of Versailles, outside Paris. –Took place for a year. Attending the peace talks, were delegates representing 32 countries. However, the meeting’s major decisions were made by a group known as the Big Four. –Woodrow Wilson (U.S.) –Georges Clemenceau (France) –David Lloyd George (Great Britain) –Vittorio Orlando (Italy)

Left to right: Vittorio Orlando, Italy; Lloyd George of Great Britain; Georges Clemenceaus of France; and President Woodrow Wilson of the United States

Woodrow’s Plan for Peace President Wilson had drawn up a series of proposals called the Fourteen Points. –1 st five points included an end to secret treaties, freedom of the seas, free trade, and reduced national armies and navies –6-13 – suggestions for changing borders and creating new nations The purpose behind these points was Self- Determination-- allowing people to decide for themselves under what government they wished to live. –14th called for a organization of nations to peacefully negotiate solutions to world conflicts.

Allies Dictate a Harsh Peace France and Britain showed little sign of agreeing to Wilson’s vision of peace. Britain and France were concerned with strengthening their own security. Both wanted to strip Germany of its war making power. France really wanted to punish Germany and make them pay for the suffering the war had caused. Finally a compromise was reached called the Treaty of Versailles.

Treaty of Versailles Created a League of Nations. The goal was to keep peace among nations. Germany was deliberately excluded. Punished Germany. –Lost territory and placed severe restrictions on its military operations –Biggest punishment was the “War Guilt” provision, which placed SOLE responsibility for the war on Germany.

Effects of the Treaty The treaty of Versailles did little to build a lasting peace. –The U.S. never signed the treaty. –Left a legacy of bitterness and hatred in the hearts of German people. –Other countries felt cheated and betrayed by the peace settlements.