2. The Treaty of Versailles
US History

3. US Entry into the War Why is the US reluctant to enter into the war?
How did the war change the United States?

4. The War Ends
With the entrance of the US into the war, there was a sustained offensive on the part of the Allies.
The Central powers collapse in Fall of 1918.
Germany overthrows the Kaiser and institutes a republic in 1919.

5. Woodrow Wilson Attempts Peace
President Woodrow Wilson goes to Paris to negotiate peace between the warring factions.
The conference is held at the Palace of Versailles
Wilson outlines his peace plan
The 14 points plan
The first five points dealt with what Wilson saw as the way to prevent future war
No secret treaties between nations
Freedom of the seas
Tariffs and other economic barriers should be lowered
Arms should be reduced
Colonies should consider the interests of colonial peoples

6. The League of Nations The 14th point outlined a League of Nations
Wilson saw this as a way to prevent future wars through greater connectedness
A forum where countries could have their grievances settled without going to war

7. 4 main problems Operation: Weaken Germany
Central Powers are not invited to peace talks
1. Germany is forced to admit that they are solely responsible for the war (emotional)
2. Germany was forced to pay huge reparations for the war. They could never pay them back. (economic)
3. Germany was stripped of its military. (protection)
4. Germany is forced to give back land gained in war. (territory)

8. Problems with Versailles
The Central Powers were not invited
Neither were the minor combatants
The main four powers (US, UK, France and Italy) outlined the treaty
Wilson conceded on most of his 14 points in order to secure the League of Nations
The Allied Powers were obsessed with making sure Germany “paid” for their aggression.
Take full blame of the war
Ordered to pay war-reparations (64 billion)
They could not field an army
Had to give back territory to France

9. Problems with the Treaty
The Russian Empire was excluded from the negotiations and lost more territory than Germany did
The treaty ignored the pleas of colonial peoples who were seeking self determination
Specifically Vietnam

10. Wilson is Defeated The Republican Senate at home opposed the treaty
Wilson refused to compromise with them on changes
The Treaty never passes the US Senate
We sign a separate treaty with Germany in 1921
The US never joins The League of Nations
Wilson suffers a stroke in October of 1919
He languishes until he leaves office in 1921