1. Wilson Fights for Peace

2. His Plan Goes to Europe to propose his ideas – Did not expect rejection 14 Points Speech – Divided into 3 groups – First 5 points were to prevent another war No secret treaties among nations Freedom of the seas Tariffs and other economic barriers should be lowered and/or abolished Arms should be reduced Colonial policies should consider the interests of the colonial people as well as the interests of the imperialist powers – Next 8 points dealt with boundary changes – 14 th point called for the creation of an international organization to address diplomatic crises like those that had sparked the war League of Nations > able to discuss and settle grievances by other means

3. Rejection Georges Clemenceau French premier lived through 2 German invasions of France David Lloyd George was British Prime Minister and wanted to “make Germany pay” Vittorio Orlando was Italian prime minister and wanted control of Austrian held territory These 3 plus Wilson -> the “Big 4” Russia not included in this discussion…. Why? Wilson concedes on most of his 14 points to establish the League of Nations

4. Treaty of Versailles Big 4 plus leaders of the defeated nations gather to sign the peace treaty Provisions – Established 9 new nations – Gave 5 areas from Ottoman Empire to France and Great Britain – Barred Germany from maintaining an army and required them to pay reparations of $33 billion to the allies

5. Treaty’s Weaknesses Humiliated Germany – War guilt clause -> made Germany take sole responsibility for starting WWI – Germany could not pay the huge war reparations Russia loses more territory than Germany – Will want to regain this territory Treaty ignored claims of colonized people – Vietnamese demand same political rights that were present in Western nations

6. Opposition to the Treaty Opposition faced upon Wilson’s return to the U.S. – People believed treaty was too “harsh” Did not end imperialism – Exchanged one group of rulers for another New national boundaries did not satisfy some cultures demands for self-determination

7. Debate Over League of Nations Possibly threatened the U.S. foreign policy of isolationism Conservatives wanted constitutional right of Congress to declare war not a joint action

8. Wilson Won’t Compromise Becomes ill, has a stroke, and become paralyzed from waist down November 1919 -> treaty came up for vote in the Senate – Had a lot of amendments attached – Did not pass the Senate Wilson refuses to negotiate its terms Failed in the Senate again – U.S. never joins the League of Nations

9. Legacy of War Normality would not exist WWI strengthens the U.S. military and government’s power Differences for women and blacks