An Uneasy Peace

An Uneasy Peace An Uneasy Peace  Nov  27 countries  5 months  Neither Germany nor Russia is represented  “Big Four” dominant

Essential Questions Essential Questions  What were Wilson’s Fourteen Points?  Why did the Allies not agree with Wilson?  What was the Treaty of Versailles?  Why did the US Senate reject it?  What were some consequences of the war?

The Hall of Mirrors

The Fourteen Points  Three main elements: 1.New European boundaries formed from the defeated A-H and Ottoman empires = right of all peoples to “national self-determination” 2.General principles governing international conduct 3.A League of Nations which would implement these principles and resolve future conflicts

Article X  The most controversial both at home and abroad  “members undertake to respect and preserve as against external aggression and territorial integrity and existing political independence of all Members”  U.S. critics 1.Surrender of national sovereignty 2.Power to declare war held by Congress

Wilson in Paris

The Hall of Mirrors

Who attended/controlled the peace conference?  David Lloyd George – Great Britain  Woodrow Wilson – U.S.  Georges Clemenceau – France  Vittorio Orlando – Italy  Russia and Central Powers were not invited

France: George Clemenceau Italy: Vittorio Orlando G.B.: David Lloyd George Hailed by the European public, Wilson found a hostile atmosphere at Versailles among the “Big Four” U.S.: Woodrow Wilson

The Treaty Of Versailles  Self-determination finds limited appeal –Nine new nations in Europe –No independence for German colonies –GB, France, and Japan seize  War guilt clause and the forced reparation of $33 billion to GB and France –The seeds are sown for the rise of the Nazi Party  League of Nations is accepted

What were Allied Motives? –Clemenceau wanted to make sure Germany never invaded France again –David Lloyd George wanted revenge –Orlando wanted land from Austria

How were the 14 Points received in Paris?  Germany had surrendered on the basis of the 14 Points  At first accepted – then ignored –Self-determination limited… –Mandate system of protectorates gave Britain and France control of old German and Turkish colonies

The Treaty Fight  Wilson’s miscalculations  1918 midterm elections –Republicans capture Congress  No Republicans with US delegation  16 extreme enemies “Irreconcilables”  Republican Henry Cabot Lodge –Opposed to League –Offers amendments weakening League Senator Henry Cabot Lodge

What were Wilson’s mistakes in this process?  1 st President to travel to Europe during his presidency – can’t control public opinion  Campaigned for a Democratic victory in 1918 – When he doesn’t get it, it appears that he lacks support

Who was Wilson’s opposition at home?  Irreconcilables – 16 Senators who opposed the treaty in any form  Reservationists – Led by Senator Henry Cabot Lodge – had reservations about the treaty…

The Treaty Fight  Mutual hatred  Wilson refuses –Takes his League to the American people –8,000 mile journey –Suffers a paralyzing stroke –Calls on Democrats to vote against Lodge’s version –Treaty fails ratification –The US never signs the Treaty nor does it join the League of Nations

Failed to take any prominent Republicans with him to the peace conference Underestimated the Europeans

How did Wilson respond to his opposition?  Took the Treaty and the League to the American people  8,000 mile speaking tour Midwest  Pacific  East  36 speeches in 23 days  Sept. 25 – collapsed in Pueblo, Colo  Suffered stroke – partially paralyzed

Did we sign the Treaty of Versailles?  Nov. Lodge brought treaty with reservations to a vote  Wilson told Dems to vote against  39 for and 55 against  Congress considered Wilson’s treaty – 38 for and 53 against  March 19, 1920 – Lodge treaty – 49 for and 35 against – 7 short of necessary 2/3

The Russian Revolution and America’s Response  Czar’s repressive and corrupt government falls  Provisional government under Kerensky stays in war  Soldiers hate the war  Lenin promises “peace, land, & bread”  Bolsheviks call for a worldwide revolution against capitalism

Red Scare  1920 Palmer Raids –6,000 people in 33 cities arrested –600 aliens depor ted  No evidence of a grand Communist revolution was ever discovered  By the spring of 1920, Palmer is discredited

Red Scare  The accusation of Bolshevism became a powerful weapon.  Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer uses the 1918 Alien Act to deport any immigrant found to be a member of a revolutionary organization.  1919 Palmer Raids in 11 cities –249 people deported

Conclusion  A “second industrial revolution”  Progressive movement ends  Prohibition  Powerful new industries of advertising and public relations  Political xenophobia and racism  Overwhelming desire for “normalcy”  Smoldering resentment in Germany grows

The Election of 1920  Possessed virtually no qualifications for president  A “return to normalcy”  Biggest landslide to date  Repudiated Wilson’s idealism and progressive reform

Legacy of the Red Scare  Blatant violation of constitutional rights  Deportations of hundreds of innocent people  Fuel for the fires of nativism and intolerance

Legacy of the Red Scare  Red-baiting continues to be an effective weapon against unions  A second government sanctioned Red Scare will reemerge in the 1950s as a powerful political force  “100% Americanism”