1. Chapter 24, Section 4: The Failed Peace
Main Idea: President Woodrow Wilson went to the Paris Peace Conference with high hopes but failed to achieve his goal of a just and lasting peace.

2. A. Wilson’s Fourteen-Point Peace Plan
The Fourteen Points- Wilson’s plan for peace; meant to prevent international problems from causing another war
Key Goals:
no secret alliances (major cause of WWI)
freedom of seas (cause of US entry in WWI)
reduce militaries/limit arms (anti-militarism)
self-determination (groups decide their own territory & form of gov’t - anti-imperialism)
League of Nations - organization to promote world peace & protect independence of all countries, big & small / strong & weak
Weaknesses- criticized by other leaders as too vague & somewhat unrealistic
Wilson soon realized that the others were more concerned with protecting their own interests

3. B. The Paris Peace Conference
The “Big Four” – Woodrow Wilson (United States), David Lloyd George (Great Britain), George Clemenceau (France), Vittorio Orlando (Italy)
Disagreement Among the Allies
Wilson called for “peace without victory.” The other 3 wanted revenge on & harsh treatment for Germany. They pushed for reparations to be paid by Germany, a “war guilt clause” blaming Germany & measures taken to weaken them. Wilson was forced to compromise to save the League.
Harsh Terms for Germany
Treaty of Versailles (June 1919)- No one was really satisfied. Germany was not even represented at the talks, but was forced to sign the treaty:
Germany was Blamed for war & had to accept full responsibility for it.
Germany had to pay for damages (Reparations = over $300 billion), was disArmed, & lost all of its colonies/Territories (given to France & Britain).
A Few Victories for Wilson
New nations in Eastern Europe: Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Austria, Hungary, Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia (land taken from Austria-Hungary, Germany & Russia). Also, Poland became independent again.
League of Nations is created to “ensure” future world peace.

4. - Germany was forced to: · take full blame for the war
Versailles Treaty
- Germany was forced to:
· take full blame for the war
· completely disarm
· pay huge reparations to the Allies
· give up it’s colonies to the Allies
* Germany was an angry, humiliated, bitter nation, setting the stage for World War II.

5. German Territorial Losses: 1919-1921

7. Treaty of Versailles Leads to WWII
Germany disarmed & loses its colonies
Germany blamed for war; had to pay for damages
Germany not represented, but forced to sign treaty

8. C. The Fight for the Versailles Treaty
In order for the US to join the League of Nations, President Wilson had to convince the Senate to approve the Versailles Treaty first.
Critics of the Treaty
Most Americans favored the treaty. Some, however, opposed it.
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge & other isolationists opposed the treaty because of the League of Nations. They wanted to avoid further involvement in European affairs. He felt that US involvement would drag us into every European conflict. He wanted it to be decided on a case-by-case basis.
The Defeated Treaty
Wilson went on a speaking tour (37 speeches in 29 cities) to promote the League and drum up support, but suffered a stroke that left him bed-ridden.
In 11/19, the Senate rejects the Versailles Treaty and, with it, the League of Nations. The U.S. will sign its own treaty with Germany in 1921 and the League of Nations will eventually fail because it is too weak without the U.S.
This crushed Wilson’s dream: “It is dead … every morning I put flowers on its grave.”

11. - The Allies agreed to form the League of Nations.