Peace Without Victory Unit 2 Section 2 Part 5

A. The Fourteen Points A. The Fourteen Points ► After the war, Wilson wanted a peace that would make sure a war like that never took place again ► Wilson’s vision of peace was called his 14 Points ► They pushed for open diplomacy, freedom of the seas, removal of trade barriers, and reduction of military ► He also wanted self- determination or the right of minorities to be able to have their own country ► The 14 th point was the creation of the League of Nations ► -a union of countries that would talk problems out and use war only as a last result

B. Paris Peace Conference ► Woodrow Wilson was a hero after the war and many looked for him to run the peace conference ► Wilson decided to go to Paris and head the peace talks ► The conference began on Jan. 12, 1919 ► Leaders from 32 nations attended ► The Allies dominated negotiations ► They were led by the Big Four ► David Lloyd George (Britain), George Clemenceau (France), Woodrow Wilson, and Vittorio Orlando (Italy)

C. Conflicting Needs ► Germany and Russia were not invited to the peace talks, which angered them ► Woodrow Wilson’s idea of peace differed from the rest of Europe ► Wilson believed in a peace where everyone reopened trade and dealt fairly with each other ► Many of the Allies just wanted to punish Germany ► Other countries cared nothing for peace, but wanted to create new countries by taking parts of Germany

D. Treaty of Versailles ► Allies eventually reached a treaty and presented it to Germany ► It was much harsher than Wilson wanted ► 1) Germany had to pay war reparations-payments for damages caused by the war ► -these reparations exceeded what Germany could pay ► 2) Germany had to sign the War Guilt Clause ► -this said that Germany was solely responsible for the war

► 3) Some ethnic groups in Germany, Russia, and Austria- Hungary would have the right to make their own countries ► -Nine new nations were created including Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia ► 4) The Central Powers had to surrender all colonies to the allies ► 5) Germany had to get rid of its Air Force and Navy, and reduce their military to 100,000 men

E. Fight Over the Treaty ► When Wilson returned to the U.S. some Americans did not like the treaty ► They thought that it entangled to the U.S. in European affairs ► They also feared that if another war broke out, the U.S. would be obligated to fight ► One of the leading opponents of the treaty was senator Henry Cabot Lodge ► -he convinced the Senate to not sign the Treaty ► The U.S. was then, not allowed to join the League of Nations

F. Impact of WWI ► 14 Million people had died during WWI, mostly due to disease ► The war had cost over $280 billion ► The monarchies of Russia and Austria-Hungary had been overthrown ► Most of Europe is going to go bankrupt, especially Germany ► Women in the U.S. received the right to vote due to the passage of the 19 th Amendment ► The Treaty of Versailles angers Germany so much, that it will lead to World War II