1. Post WWI
USH-5.5

2. I. Peace Wilson is crucial at Versailles Peace Conference
He brings Fourteen Points
Plan to eliminate all wars
Limit navies
End secret treaties
Reduce arms
New nations
International peace organization – League of Nations

3. I. Peace
To get the League of Nations created, Wilson gives in to the Allies anger
War Guilt Clause
Blamed Germany for all of the death and destruction
Meant to make Germans feel badly and depressed
Reparations were placed on Germany
$33 billion in 1921
$469,579,455, in 2018

4. I. Peace
Many new nations created from German, Austrian, Russian, and Ottoman land
Yugoslavia
Hungary
Czechoslovakia
Poland
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania
Turkey
Finland
Ireland
Borders aren’t drawn well
They are going to cause future conflict

5. II. Fight for League of Nations
Every nation that signs the Treaty of Versailles is in the League of Nations
In US Constitution, foreign policy is the executive branch
Senate ratifies all treaties
Wilson created the League of Nations but the Senate refused to ratify the treaty
Didn’t want to give up the ability to declare war
Didn’t want to join wars b/c the League of Nations said so

6. II. Fight for League of Nations
Wilson (D) refused to compromise with the Senate who had a majority Republicans
Wilson went on a cross country speaking tour
Wanted to get Democrats elected to Senate so they’d vote yes
Wilson had a stroke and still didn’t compromise
US never ratified the Treaty of Versailles
Made our own peace w/Ger.

7. III. The 1920s Election of 1920 Dem. Cox supported Wilson
Rep. Harding wanted a return to normalcy
People liked “make the world safe for democracy”
WWI violence changed their minds
Harding won and US became isolationist

8. III. The 1920s US became world’s leading economic power
Leading exports
Creditor nation
Financial capital
Still involved in Latin Amer.

9. IV. Waiting for WWII US never joined the League of Nations
Sent observers
Participated in international conferences
Helped Germany pay the war reparations w/loans
Dawes and Young Plans
Didn’t do anything as dictators rose in Italy and Germany

10. IV. Waiting for WWII Stock Market crash in October 1929
US worried about domestic problems
Congress passed Neutrality Acts
Meant to keep US out of future wars
Delays US involvement in WWII