World War I to World War II How Could This Happen? World War I to World War II

Wilson Seeks the Peace U.S. President Woodrow Wilson began outlining terms of peace long before the fighting ended Concerns over the new communists government in Russia made everyone uneasy Hoping to avoid such a conflict in the future Wilson was one of the first high-profile advocates of world peace Wilson’s ambitious plan for peace in Europe was called “The Fourteen Points”

The Fourteen Points Outlined in a speech delivered on January 8, 1918 The basis of the speech were fourteen different outcomes that served several purposes: The surrender of Germany The rebuilding of Europe The prevention of future wars Wilson’s European allies were skeptical

The Fourteen Points Open covenants of peace openly arrived at Absolute freedom of the seas, both in peace time and war Removal of all economic barriers to the equality of trade among nations Reduction of armaments to the level only needed for domestic safety Impartial adjustments of colonial claims Evacuation of all Russian territory. Russia will be welcomed into the society of free nations Evacuation and restoration of Belgium Evacuation and restoration of all French lands; Alsace Lorraine will be returned to France

The Fourteen Points Readjustment of Italy’s frontiers along the lines of Italian nationality Self-determination for the former subjects of the Austro-Hungarian Empire Evacuation of Romania, Serbia, and Montenegro; free access to the sea for Serbia Self-determination for the former subjects of the Ottoman Empire; secure sovereignty for Turkey Establishment of an independent Poland, with free and secure access to the sea Establishment of the League of Nations affording mutual guarantees of independence and territorial sovereignty

The Allies The Allies were reluctant to use Wilson’s Fourteen Points as the basis for German surrender Several Allies had already made secret deals with each other for post-war spoils The European Allies wanted German crippled and punished The Russians had already made public secret plans to divide up the German state When Wilson threatened to negotiate a separate peace and leave the Europeans to themselves, Britain and France caved in

French P.M. Georges Clemenceau “God gave us the Ten Commandments, and we have broken them. Wilson gives us the Fourteen Points. We shall see…”

What happened to Austria-Hungary? With the war going badly, Emperor Charles I of Austria attempted to negotiate a separate peace with France After unsuccessful negotiations, the betrayal was revealed to the Germans, who were furious The division between the former allies spelled doom for the war effort Austria, under a flag of truce, surrendered in April of 1918 Austria and Hungary separated into two nations, and were no longer an international threat

Wilson at Home Wilson was a major foreign policy success, but home was a different matter Wilson, a Democrat, infuriated Republicans at home Urged the people to vote for a Democratic Congress in 1918, or we would seem weak to the enemy Republican’s even those who initially supported Wilson, were furious The American people were furious, and the Republicans saw major gains in the Congress Wilson’s Fourteen Points were in serious trouble

Wilson at Home Republicans said that the voters had rejected Wilson’s policies in the November Election Wilson attended the Paris Peace Conference personally with a small group that included no members of the Senate Wilson, who liked to control situations, excluded people he would need later like Senator Henry Cabot-Lodge

The Paris Peace Conference British Prime Minister David Lloyd-George U.S. President Woodrow Wilson French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau Italian Prime Minister Vittorio Orlando

The Paris Peace Conference Wilson gave in on small points to achieve his major goals League of Nations Peace in Europe Spread of Democracy and Capitalism Wilson returned home with an agreement by the nations attending the Peace conference

Republican Rejection Henry Cabot-Lodge organized a coalition to defeat the League of Nations, and now had the votes to do it. Most Americans favored the League Endorsed by several states Wilson attacked his critics and tried to adjust the Peace Accords, but he could not get Senate approval

War Again? Wilson, furious, threatened to “crush” anyone who opposed him in the creation of the League Took his case to the people A tireless Wilson made speech after speech trying to force the Republicans to bow the people’s support After one such speech Wilson felt ill and returned to the White House to rest Wilson suffered a massive stroke, which left him paralyzed on his left side His ability to fight for the League was all but gone The League would be defeated when Cabot-Lodge and Wilson refused to compromise

First Female President? After Wilson’s stroke, Edith Wilson took charge of the President’s schedule Wanted to protect him from the public She controlled who saw him and when Most historians believe that she made some critcal decisions to spare Wilson any stress Oftebn been labeled “The Secret President” First Lady Edith Wilson

The Secret President This 1920 photograph was intended to show Wilson performing his duties, but it only fueled speculation about the level of Mrs. Wilson’s involvement Due to the President’s paralysis on his left side, Mrs. Wilson has to hold the paper he is signing.

War again? League of Nations, which was already weak around the world, was not joined by the United States, which made it powerless Germany was stuck paying war reparations, which devastated their economy and future, leading to Hitler’s rise to power. Territorial disputes would be settled in the old fashioned way: wars…