Treaty of Versailles
The event… Govt’ leaders met at Versailles, just 20 km from Paris 32 Victorious nations represented (including Canada) Canadian PM Borden demanded that Canada be represented as separate nation (initially opposed by Great Britain and USA)
The key players The main decisions were made by the leaders of the BIG THREE- Great Britain, France, and USA Germany was not invited to the Peace Talks From L-R PM David Lloyd George of UK, PM Vittorio Emanuele Orlando of Italy, PM Georges Clemenceau of France, President Woodrow Wilson of USA
The opinions… USA (Wilson) and British (Lloyd George) wanted to seek lasting peace, but France disagreed Wilson believed in disarmament, free trade and League of Nations- designed to solve future disputes before they led to war. George wanted to avoid another war- believed that harsh treaty might provoke Germany to seek revenge as soon as it could Clemenceau (France)- a country invaded by Germany twice, wanted to weaken Germany so it could not attack again
The Main Points of the Peace Treaty Germany forced to accept sole responsibility for causing war- know as the war guilt cause Germany to pay full costs of war- $32 Billion Germany had to surrender all overseas colonies to the victors Germany had to surrender part of it’s pre-war territory to France, Denmark, Poland, and Czechoslovakia Some coalfields in Germany were to be given to France for at least 15 years Rhineland, German territory bordering France, was to be demilitarized, increasing France’s security Germany was forced to accept restrictions on the size of its armed forces.
Significance for Canada Canada was still a colony in 1914, but battlefield successes stimulated a desire among Canadians for greater national autonomy and international recognition. In 1919, Canada signed the Treaty of Versailles, which formally ended the war, and joined the newly-created League of Nations as a member state in its own right. Canada had come of age.
Text Work Read: 82-100 (skip 86 & 87) Answer 103-Factfile & #3, 4 & 5