EQ: How did the League of Nations and Treaty of Versailles ultimately fail to bring about a lasting peace?

Ypres, Belgium

Verdun, France

Bray-Sur-Somme, France

Vaux, France

St. Mihiel, France

British Soldiers Awaiting Treatment

The War’s Deadly Toll Approximately 10 million war personnel died More than all the wars in Europe in the last hundred years combined Military Deaths by Country France: 1.3 million Britain: 900,000 U.S. : 50,000 Germany: 1.6 million Russia: 1.7 million

Great Britain, America and France were the three most powerful Allies and they wanted to exert their influence upon the Treaty of Versailles. Yet they wanted different things.

Wilson’s Fourteen Points Founded on principles for international cooperation Germany ended the war hoping that the armistice be based on “The Fourteen Points” War-weary European population thrilled 2 million people showed up to cheer Wilson when he arrived in Paris Points 1-5 dealt with factors that had led to the war – Freedom of the seas – Reduction of world’s military force – Settlement of colonial claims

Wilson’s Fourteen Points Points 6-13 dealt with territorial issues – Called for self-determination: the right of a group to decide its own form of government Point 14 set up the League of Nations – An international organization to guarantee world peace

Wilson (USA) a better and more peaceful world a League of Nations that would help and support each other and help to promote world peace the right to self-determination- the right of a group to decide its own form of government

Lloyd George (UK) Germany to be justly punished, but not too harshly Germany to lose its navy and colonies as these were a threat to Britain's own navy and empire Germany and Britain to become trading partners

Clemenceau (France) to cripple Germany so it couldn't attack France again Wanted Germany broken down into smaller states (weakened) France had suffered the most, so he was under great pressure from his people to make Germany pay

Germany had to accept total responsibility for starting the First World War This was called the War Guilt Clause or Article 231

Germany had to pay $3.3 million reparations to cover war damages and other Allied losses

Germany had to hand over Some border areas of land This accounted for about 13% of all its land and 6 million people lived here

Germany lost all of its colonies. These colonies became mandates run by the Allies on behalf of the League of Nations

Germany was to have no more than 100,000 men Navy limited sailors and shrank to 15,000 No u-boats or air force.

German navy was allowed only six battleships and Germany was forbidden to buy anymore weapons and other war materials.

An Allied Army was to occupy the Rhineland for fifteen years No German troops allowed into the occupation zone

Germans hated the treaty, especially Article 231 which blamed them for starting the war. Many Germans also thought the financial penalties that the treaty imposed upon their country and her people to be immoral and unjust. The German Government that had agreed to the treaty became known as the "November Criminals“. Many German citizens felt they were being punished for the mistakes of the Kaiser and German government of August 1914 who had started the war.

Battle Over the League of Nations Wilson thought U.S. needed to join the League to “lead the world on a new path” Many Senators were opposed to League of Nations Leading the opposition was Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, a powerful Republican from MA

Battle Over the League of Nations Lodge felt League would restrict the U.S. from acting independently Many Senators agreed: wanted to follow isolationist policies to avoid getting involved in European affairs On Nov 1919, the Senate rejected the Treaty of Versailles – they did not become part of the League of Nations

Failures of the League of Nations Failures of the Treaty of Versailles