Fourteen Points & Versailles Treaty

Paris Peace Conference Began January 1919 - Palace of Versailles Representatives from 32 countries Germany & its allies not represented Russia also excluded – civil war

The Big Four Conference dominated by leaders from 4 major powers: Great Britain: David Lloyd George France: Georges Clemenceau United States: Woodrow Wilson Italy: Vittorio Orlando

The Fourteen Points Woodrow Wilson had developed a peace plan during the war Goal - a plan for lasting peace Concept of self-determination (the process by which a group of people, usually possessing a certain degree of national consciousness, form their own state and choose their own government.) 14th point called for creation of a “general association of nations”

League of Nations Based on #14 of The Fourteen Points Established an international association of nations Main goal: keep peace Prevent wars by helping to settle disputes between countries. Precursor to the United Nations

Treaty of Versailles Considerable debate between the Big 4 regarding terms of treaty Britain & France much more concerned about national security and punishing Germany Most of Wilson’s 14 Points regarding trade and diplomacy NOT used or were modified– only #14 (League of Nations) used United States ended up not even joining (isolationism)

Germany and the Treaty - Problems Germany never believed they had lost the war War had been fought almost entirely on foreign soil Germans believed the treaty would reflect Wilson’s Fourteen Points – i.e. a peace agreement Punished Germany & Austria Hungary Lost territory Forced reduction of military “War Guilt” clause blamed Germany for the war, forced it to pay reparations to the Allies ($33 billion) What did this lead to? Germany lost all its imperial territories – divided among allies Austria-Hungary divided into four independent countries

Wilson’s 14 Points Treaty of Versailles The League of Nations Freedom of the seas Freedom of trade Limit of arms and military build up (disarmament) End secret alliances/treaties Grant all colonies and nations independence Right to self-determination for all nations in Europe Return Alsace-Lorraine to France Limit Military for Germany Allied Troops occupy the Rhineland for 15 years Creation of new countries for nations in Eastern Europe Germany pays reparations for war Force Germany to sign a “Guilt Clause”