1. World War I
Treaty of Versailles

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. Paris Peace Conference
January, May, 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

7. 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

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

9. 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…

10. 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

11. 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!