 The entry of the United States gave the Allied Powers a huge boost. US soldiers were fresh, armed, and NOT fatigued… this led to the Allied victory in WWI  Germany was the last of the Central Powers to drop out.  On November 11, 1918 an armistice, or agreement to stop fighting was declared.  11/11/1918 at 11 am

 The Allied Powers, upset with the destruction insisted that the Central Powers pay war reparations (payments for war damage)  In January of 1919, the victorious Allied Powers met at the French Palace of Versailles  Here the Big Three met and created the Treaty of Versailles  US President Woodrow Wilson / English Prime Minister David Lloyd George / French leader Georges Clemenceau

 Land was taken away from Germany, and some of this land was used to create the new country of Poland.  Germany had to return some land to the French  Germany’s army and navy were now limited, and monitored. (No Submarines and No Air Force)  Germany had to accept full responsibility for the war, and pay huge war reparations …  This ANGERED the people of Germany.

 U.S. Wilson drew up 14 points to achieve a lasting peace  Idea of self determination, allowing people to decide what government they wish to live under  The Treaty of Versailles also created an organization called the League of Nations

 A group of over 40 countries that would settle problems through negotiation and diplomacy, NOT through war.  Although the idea was President Woodrow Wilson’s the U.S.A. did not join.  Many Americans thought that participating in it would bring the U.S. into further European wars. (Sticking our noses where it doesn’t belong…USA is not in Europe)  Without USA participation, the League was not strong.

 As a result of WWI, Austria-Hungary’s government collapsed.  Austria-Hungary became Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Yugoslavia  Poland was created after WWI. The Ottoman Empire collapsed, and became the country of Turkey.  Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia all were created in the Slavic East.