From January to June 1918, president Woodrow Wilson and the European powers met at the Palace of Versailles, outside of Paris, to decide the peace terms for the treaty with Germany to end World War I. President George Clememceau from France Prime Minister David Lloyd George from Great Britain President Vittorio Orlando from Italy President Woodrow Wilson from the USA

Treaty of Versailles They were joined by representatives from thirty other countries. However, it was these four men, collectively known as the “Big Four,” who ultimately negotiated the most important provisions of the Treaty of Versailles. Contrary to custom, the peace conference did not include the defeated Central Powers Also, Communist Russia was left out of the process

Peace Treaty Goals Ensure world peace Protect the interests of the leaders they represent

Read your country’s background info As a group, come up with a list of requirements or provisions for the Treaty of Versailles that will appease the citizens and government of your country.

Treaty of Versailles 1.What provisions were passed? (See textbook Ch.11.4) 2.Whose provisions were more fully met- President Wilson’s, the European powers, or Germany’s? 3.Why didn’t Congress ever approve the Treaty of Versailles? (See textbook Ch.11.4) 4.Predict Germany’s reaction to the Treaty of Versailles. Give reasons for your prediction. 5.Why didn’t the Treaty of Versailles lay the foundations for lasting world peace? 6.Do you think WWI had a positive or negative effect on American society?

What provisions were passed? Treaty of Versailles established new countries: Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia. It carved five areas out of the Ottoman Empire and gave them to France and Britain as colonies. It barred Germany from maintaining an army. It required Germany to return the region of Alsace- Lorraine to France. It required Germany to pay reparations, or war damages, amounting 33 billion to the Allies.

Whose provisions were more fully met- President Wilson’s, the European powers, or Germany’s?

Why didn’t Congress ever approve the Treaty of Versailles? The treaty faced strong opposition in the U.S. Some thought it was too harsh and the economic consequences would pull Europe apart. Others disliked the support of Imperialism because exchanged one set of imperial rulers for another. The main opposition however was over The League of Nations. Critics believed joining the League would threaten America’s foreign policy of isolationism. The U.S. Senate voted on ratification in 1919 and Both times the treaty did not earn enough votes for ratification. In 1921, the U.S. signed a separate treaty with Germany (after Wilson was no longer president). The U.S. NEVER JOINED THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS THAT PRESIDENT WILSON FOUGHT SO HARD TO CREATE.

Predict Germany’s reaction to the Treaty of Versailles. Give reasons for your prediction. Germany will be upset about the War Guilt Clause = it forced Germany to admit full responsibility for the start of the war Reparations = 33 billion to the Allies Loss of Territory = return region of Alsace- Lorraine to France Germany wasn’t allowed to maintain an army

Why didn’t the Treaty of Versailles lay the foundations for lasting world peace? The Treaty of Versailles created resentment among German citizens and their gov officials

Do you think WWI had a positive or negative effect on American society? Negative - Debate over joining League of Nations divided the nation Returning soldiers faced unemployment or took jobs from women and African Americans Farmers and factories suffered economically as wartime orders diminished People responded to stressful conditions by becoming mistrusting of outsiders. It led to nativism = prejudice against foreign-born people and isolationism = a pulling away from involvement in foreign affairs 48,000 American deaths in war Positive + The U.S. helped win the war! Americans and veterans were proud Built Nationalism