1. How wise was the journey towards peace 1918-19?
Section 3
Why was the Treaty of Versailles considered to treat Germany harshly?

2. What should the treaty cover?
What should happen to the land and colonies of the defeated nations?
Should there be a League of Nations and how should it work?
Who should pay for the cost of the war and repairing the damage?
What should the treaty cover?
Who was to blame for the war?
What should happen to the remaining German armed forces?

3. Copy and complete this chart using your own thoughts and ideas…
What would you do?
Copy and complete this chart using your own thoughts and ideas…
Issue
Reason
Possible solution
Pros/ Advantages
Cons/
Disadvantages
What should happen to the land and colonies of the defeated nations?
Should there be a League of Nations and how should it work?
Who should pay for the cost of the war and repairing the damage?
What should happen to the remaining German armed forces?
Who was to blame for the war?

4. The Treaty of Versailles
Category
Terms of the treaty which fit this category
Wisdom score (10 = very wise peace terms, 0 = very unwise terms
Reasons for wisdom score
Land
Military Strength
Reparations (compensation)
Blame
Draw out this table and complete it using the ‘Terms of the Treaty of Versailles’ (next slide) and your thoughts from the roleplay activity.

5. The Treaty of Versailles
German army cut to 100,000 men. Conscription not allowed
Only six battleships allowed
No tanks, submarines or planes
Germany should be held responsible for paying for the damage caused in WWI. The figure decided was £6,600,000,000. This could be paid in gold or in goods
German troops not allowed in the Rhineland, would have Allied troops stationed there for 15 years
All of Germany’s colonies were taken away and given to the Allies e.g. Togoland, German South-West Africa
Germany lost 1/5 of its land mass
The League of Nations was set up. It was designed to give countries a chance to talk rather than going to war. The League had no armed forces of its own. Germany was not allowed to join (until 1926)
Germany was forced to accept full responsibility for the war

6. Understanding the Aims of the Peacemakers
All students will be able to describe the aims of the Big 3
Most students will be able to explain how the peacemakers disagreed and compromised
Some students will be able to explain the utility of a source

7. Demonstrate: Describe the aims of the Big Three
On 11th November 1918, the armistice of the First World War was agreed.
In January 1919 representatives from 32 countries met in Paris for a conference that would make the peace settlement at the end of the First World War. The tasks they faced were huge;
At least 8 million fighting men and 8 million civilians had been killed
The Russian and Austro-Hungarian empires had collapsed
Large areas of Europe were devastated by the war
The European economy was shattered by the costs of war
All students will be able to describe the aims of the Big 3
Most students will be able to explain how the peacemakers disagreed and compromised
Some students will be able to explain the utility of a source

8. Demonstrate: Describe the aims of the Big Three 2
Of the nations that assembled in Paris, 3 had more power than most – these were the great powers that had won the war; the USA, France and Britain. They were represented by President Woodrow Wilson, and Prime Ministers Clemenceau and Lloyd George.
Read the information on the next three slides about these Big 3 countries. Use this information to complete your table.
Leader
Aims
Why they wanted this
Clemenceau
Lloyd George
Wilson
Extension: How similar were the aims of the Big 3?
All students will be able to describe the aims of the Big 3
Most students will be able to explain how the peacemakers disagreed and compromised
Some students will be able to explain the utility of a source

9. Great Britain
Lloyd George became leader of Britain in in December 1918 his government won a massive election victory by promising to ‘squeeze the German lemon until the pips squeak’.
The British blamed the Germans for the war and wanted to make them pay; some even suggested the Kaiser should be hanged.
Lloyd George probably knew that a harsh peace would store up trouble, but he was constrained by British public opinion and election promises.
Lloyd George wanted to keep Britain as a global naval power. He also wanted the German fleet sunk.
By the end of the Peace conference, British public opinion was shifting. As a trading nation, Britain knew that German recovery was important to improve the European economy. Large reparations would make this impossible.

10. Great Britain
Challenge: When asked about how he felt he had done at the Versailles conference, Lloyd George said: “Not badly, considering I was seated between Jesus Christ and Napoleon.”
Who do you think he referred to as ‘Jesus’?
Who do you think he referred to as ‘Napoleon’?
What do you think he meant by this?

11. France
Clemenceau became French Prime Minister in 1917 when defeat in the war seemed a real possibility. He rallied the country and led it to victory.
Clemenceau was personally willing to compromise in order to find a settlement, but he knew what his countrymen expected. France had been devastated by the fighting and the French expected Germany to pay for this.
The French people wanted to ensure that Germany would never invade France again.

12. The USA Woodrow Wilson The USA’s Fourteen Points
Woodrow Wilson was a leading democrat in the American government when the war began and became President in he was a man of strong principles. He only entered the war in order to ‘make the world safe for democracy’.
Once the war was won, Wilson wanted a fair settlement which would ensure future world peace. In January 1918 he outlined his ‘Fourteen Points’ which he believed should guide peace-making when the war ended. The most important thing was self determination – that people of different national groups had the right to rule themselves.
Wilson did believe that Germany should be punished, he believed that the treaty should not be too harsh as this could cause Germany to want revenge in the future.
Wilson wanted to encourage debate at the Peace Conference, to ensure each country had their say, but this process was too slow and did not always happen.
No secret treaties
Freedom of the seas
The removal of economic barriers
The reduction of armaments
Settlement of all colonial claims
Germans to leave Russian territory
Germans to leave Belgium
French territory freed and Alsace Loraine returned to France
Italian frontiers adjusted to take into account the nationality of the people
The people of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to be given self determination
Germans to leave Romania, Serbia and Montenegro and these countries given independence
The people of the Ottoman Empire to be given self determination
An independent Polish state to be created with access to the sea
A general association of nations to be formed to give guarantees of political independence

13. Compromises and Disagreements
Many people in France and Britain did not agree with the ideas in Wilson’s Fourteen Points. They seemed too impractical.
Clemenceau and Lloyd George did allow Wilson to give self determination to countries in Eastern Europe, although they did not agree with this idea.
Clemenceau clashed with Wilson’s generous attitude to Germany. They disagreed about what to do about Germany’s Rhineland and coalfields in the Saar. France wanted to take them as compensation. Wilson thought this was too harsh.
Wilson compromised and allowed France to take the Rhineland from Germany.
Clemenceau did not like the fact that Lloyd George was letting Germany remain strong in Europe as this could lead to a future invasion of France.
Lloyd George was not happy with point 2 of the Fourteen Points – allowing all nations access to the sea. Britain wanted to rule the waves.
Wilson disagreed with the fact that Britain still owned an Empire – this went against the idea of self determination.

14. Demonstrate: Describe the aims of the Big Three
You will be shown an aim of one of the Big 3.
If you think it is about France, show me the red card.
If you think it is about USA, show me the yellow card.
If you think it is about Britain, show me the green card.
They promised to ‘squeeze the German lemon until the pips squeak’.
All students will be able to describe the aims of the Big 3
Most students will be able to explain how the peacemakers disagreed and compromised
Some students will be able to explain the utility of a source

15. Demonstrate: Describe the aims of the Big Three
You will be shown an aim of one of the Big 3.
If you think it is about France, show me the red card.
If you think it is about USA, show me the yellow card.
If you think it is about Britain, show me the green card.
They promised to ‘squeeze the German lemon until the pips squeak’.
All students will be able to describe the aims of the Big 3
Most students will be able to explain how the peacemakers disagreed and compromised
Some students will be able to explain the utility of a source

16. Demonstrate: Describe the aims of the Big Three
You will be shown an aim of one of the Big 3.
If you think it is about France, show me the red card.
If you think it is about USA, show me the yellow card.
If you think it is about Britain, show me the green card.
They wanted to ‘make the world safe for democracy’.
All students will be able to describe the aims of the Big 3
Most students will be able to explain how the peacemakers disagreed and compromised
Some students will be able to explain the utility of a source

17. Demonstrate: Describe the aims of the Big Three
You will be shown an aim of one of the Big 3.
If you think it is about France, show me the red card.
If you think it is about USA, show me the yellow card.
If you think it is about Britain, show me the green card.
They wanted Germany to pay for ruining their country.
All students will be able to describe the aims of the Big 3
Most students will be able to explain how the peacemakers disagreed and compromised
Some students will be able to explain the utility of a source

18. Demonstrate: Describe the aims of the Big Three
You will be shown an aim of one of the Big 3.
If you think it is about France, show me the red card.
If you think it is about USA, show me the yellow card.
If you think it is about Britain, show me the green card.
They came up with the Fourteen Points to ensure future world peace.
All students will be able to describe the aims of the Big 3
Most students will be able to explain how the peacemakers disagreed and compromised
Some students will be able to explain the utility of a source

19. Demonstrate: Describe the aims of the Big Three
You will be shown an aim of one of the Big 3.
If you think it is about France, show me the red card.
If you think it is about USA, show me the yellow card.
If you think it is about Britain, show me the green card.
They wanted to protect their Empire around the world and stay a global naval power.
All students will be able to describe the aims of the Big 3
Most students will be able to explain how the peacemakers disagreed and compromised
Some students will be able to explain the utility of a source

20. Demonstrate: Describe the aims of the Big Three
You will be shown an aim of one of the Big 3.
If you think it is about France, show me the red card.
If you think it is about USA, show me the yellow card.
If you think it is about Britain, show me the green card.
They wanted all countries to have self determination.
All students will be able to describe the aims of the Big 3
Most students will be able to explain how the peacemakers disagreed and compromised
Some students will be able to explain the utility of a source

21. Demonstrate: Describe the aims of the Big Three
You will be shown an aim of one of the Big 3.
If you think it is about France, show me the red card.
If you think it is about USA, show me the yellow card.
If you think it is about Britain, show me the green card.
They wanted to prevent a future invasion by Germany.
All students will be able to describe the aims of the Big 3
Most students will be able to explain how the peacemakers disagreed and compromised
Some students will be able to explain the utility of a source

22. Activate: Explain how the peacemakers disagreed and compromised
Clearly, each of the Big 3 had different aims for the post war world. This made it difficult for them to reach and agreement. You have been given information sheets about the disagreements and compromises made between the Big 3. Use this information to complete the speech bubbles for each leader.
Extension: How difficult was it to make a peace settlement which would please everyone?
All students will be able to describe the aims of the Big 3
Most students will be able to explain how the peacemakers disagreed and compromised
Some students will be able to explain the utility of a source

23. 1. Who made this source and when? Does this make it more or less useful?
Source 1; Sir Eric Geddes, a government minister, speaking to a rally in the general election campaign of December 1918
If I am elected Germany is going to pay…I have personally no doubt we will get everything that you can squeeze out of a lemon, and a bit more. I propose that every bit of German owned property, movable and immovable, in Allied and neutral countries, whether State property or private property, should be surrendered by the Germans.
2. What information do you know about the peacemakers which this source misses out?
3. What information does the source give you which makes it useful?
All students will be able to describe the aims of the Big 3
Most students will be able to explain how the peacemakers disagreed and compromised
Some students will be able to explain the utility of a source

24. Demonstrate: Explain the Utility of a source
Source 1; Sir Eric Geddes, a government minister, speaking to a rally in the general election campaign of December 1918
If I am elected Germany is going to pay…I have personally no doubt we will get everything that you can squeeze out of a lemon, and a bit more. I propose that every bit of German owned property, movable and immovable, in Allied and neutral countries, whether State property or private property, should be surrendered by the Germans.
Where would you place this source on the line below? Why?
Very useful Not at all useful
Where would you place this source on the line above? Why?
All students will be able to describe the aims of the Big 3
Most students will be able to explain how the peacemakers disagreed and compromised
Some students will be able to explain the utility of a source

25. The Consequences of the Treaty of Versailles
Challenge:
 Brainstorm the consequences of the Treaty of Versailles in the table below.
What, in your opinion, was the most significant economic consequence of the Treaty of Versailles? Why?
What, in your opinion, was the most significant political consequence of the Treaty of Versailles? Why?
Super Challenge:
Do you think political consequences or economic consequences were the most significant for Germany? Explain your answer.
Economic Consequences
Political Consequences

26. Accompanying Worksheets

27. Leader
Aims
Why they wanted this
Clemenceau, France
Clemenceau was…
French public wanted…
1. During the war…
Lloyd George, Britain
The German government promised to…
Navy:
Economy:
The British blamed….
The government were constrained by…
Wilson, USA
Fourteen Points:
Self Determination
Did not want a harsh treaty because…
Wanted debate because…

28. I disagree with Wilson because…
I disagree with Lloyd George because…
I don’t like Clemenceau's idea that…
I don’t like the fact that Britain…
I do not like Wilson’s idea of….
Clemenceau, France
Wilson, USA
Lloyd George, Britain
Even though I don’t like it, I will let Wilson…
Even though I don’t like it, I will let Clemenceau…
Even though I don’t like it, I will let Wilson…

29. Who made this source and when? Does this make it more or less useful?
What information do you know about the peacemakers which this source misses out?
It does not tell us about
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
What information does the source give you which makes it useful?
It says ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
This suggests………………
……………………………………………………………...
Source 1; Sir Eric Geddes, a government minister, speaking to a rally in the general election campaign of December 1918
If I am elected Germany is going to pay…I have personally no doubt we will get everything that you can squeeze out of a lemon, and a bit more. I propose that every bit of German owned property, movable and immovable, in Allied and neutral countries, whether State property or private property, should be surrendered by the Germans.
It was said by …………………………………………………… in ………………………………………………………………. This makes it more/less useful because……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Overall, how useful is the source in explaining to an historian the aims of the Big 3?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………