The Treaty of Versailles and Revolution
the Allies negotiated treaties with each of the Central Powers The settlement with Germany proved most important for future events
Revolutionary Fallout When the Allied victors met in January 1919, they found it impossible to put Europe back together again Revolutionary violence led to the toppling of four empires Allied leaders were prepared to confirm the creation of new states out of the Habsburg Empire and promote democratic governments there and Germany
Differing Goals and Visions for Peace President Woodrow Wilson authored the Fourteen Points New diplomatic order by open diplomacy, freedom of the seas, arms reduction, national self-determination and collective security Creation of a League of Nations
French Premier George Clemenceau concentrated on security for France by emasculating Germany’s military and economic potential British Prime Minister David Lloyd George wanted to punish Germany but not utterly destroy it Prime Minister Orlando represented Italy but eventually walked out
Russia sat out of the negotiations The Allies rejected German participation
The Final Product Delegates signed the Versailles settlement on June 28, 1919 Territorial Losses Germany lost 13% of its territory and 12% of its population Demilitarization German army was reduced to 100,000 men, naval fleet was curtailed and air force was eliminated
War Guilt Germany was forced to accept full responsibility for the war via Article 231 Reparations German government was to pay $33 billion League of Nations Allies agreed to the League but the U.S. would never join USSR and Germany were excluded
Consequences and Conflicts The Weimar Republic started off with two strikes against it Observers condemned the economic arrangements of the treaty John Maynard Keynes predicted the ruination of the world economy
The inability of the victors to establish a consistent diplomatic approach torpedoed their efforts A major reason for the treaty’s failure proved to be the isolation of both the U.S. and USSR