Wilson Fights for Peace

Objectives Summarize Wilson’s Fourteen Points Describe the Treaty of Versailles and international and domestic reactions to it Explain some of the consequences of the war

Wilson Presents His Plan There should be no secret treaties among nations Freedom of the seas should be maintained for all Tariffs and other economic barriers among nations should be lowered or abolished in order to foster free trade Arms should be reduced “to the lowest point consistent with domestic safety, thus lessening the possibility of military responses” during diplomatic crises Colonial policies should consider the interests of the colonial people as well as the interests of the imperialist powers Fourteen Points Delivered in front of Congress Divided into 3 groups 1st 5 Wilson believed they had to be address to prevent another war Other 8 dealt with boundary changes

Wilson Presents His Plan Fourteen Points (cont.) The Allies Reject Wilson’s Plan League of Nations Forum of nations to discuss and settle their grievances without having to resort to war French Premier Georges Clemenceau British Prime Minister “Make Germany pay” David Lloyd George Italian Prime Minister Austro-Hungarian land Vittorio Orlando

Wilson Presents His Plan The Allies Reject Wilson’s Plan (cont.) Central Powers were not included in the negotiations Nor Russia Nor smaller countries “The Big Four” United States – Wilson Clemenceau – France George – Great Britain Orlando – Italy

Debating the Treaty of Versailles Provisions of the Treaty Treaty of Versailles Germany Created 9 new nations Poland $33,000,000,000 in reparations Czechoslovakia Yugoslavia Shifted boundaries No air force No more than a 100,000 man army Carved up the Ottoman Empire Britain No more than 100,000 tons in naval vessels No submarines France

Debating the Treaty of Versailles The Treaty’s Weaknesses War-guilt clause Humiliated Germany Admit sole responsibility for the war The war debt was unpayable Would be paying it off until 2010 Stripped of profitable colonies Took territory from Russia (USSR) Ignored Asian and colonial rights Sowed the seeds of resentment

Debating the Treaty of Versailles Opposition to the Treaty Debate Over the League of Nations Too harsh Economic backlash Sell out to colonialism Self rule not satisfied Poland/Germany The League of Nations Threatened U.S. isolationism Joint economic and military action Congress’s ability to declare war

Debating the Treaty of Versailles Wilson Refuses to Compromise American delegation has no Republicans 3 week – 8,000 miles – 34 speeches Ill health – stroke Senate fails to ratify the treaty in 1919 and 1920 1921 – US signs a separate treaty with Germany

The Legacy of the War Political instability Rise of communism United States Europe “a return to normalcy” US military and government had became very powerful Moved social advancements Lasting fears/untrusting Political instability Rise of communism Russia Rise of fascism Italy Spain Germany

What were Wilson’s Fourteen Points What were Wilson’s Fourteen Points? Why did the Allies reject Wilson’s peace plan?

What were the main provisions of the Treaty of Versailles What were the main provisions of the Treaty of Versailles? What were some weaknesses of the Treaty? How did Americans react to the Treaty? Why did the Americans disagree about the League of Nations?

Why did Germany object to the Treaty of Versailles Why did Germany object to the Treaty of Versailles? How did the war affect Germany? How did the war affect U.S. power and prestige in the world?