WILSON FIGHTS FOR PEACE Chapter 11 Section 4 MAIN IDEA: European leaders opposed most of Wilson’s peace plan, and the U.S. Senate failed to ratify the peace treaty. OBJECTIVES: 1. Summarize Wilson’s Fourteen Points 2. Describe the Treaty of Versailles and international and domestic reaction to it. 3. Explain some of the consequences of the war.

Wilson Presents His Plan Fourteen Points-Plan for World Peace Fourteen Points speech given before Congress, big ideas “points” divided into three groups First 5 points Wilson believed had to be addressed to prevent another war

14 POINTS 1. There should be no secret treaties among nations. 2. Freedom of the seas should be maintained for all. 3. Tariffs and other economic barriers should be lowered or abolished to promote free trade. 4. Arms should be reduced “to the lowest point consistent with domestic safety” this lowers the possibility of military responses during diplomatic crises & reduces militarism 5. Colonial policies should consider the interests of the people as well as the interests of the imperialistic powers

14-points continued 6-13 dealt with boundary changes; he believed in “self determination” – so that groups with distinct national identities would either form their own nation or choose which nation they would belong to themselves. 14 th point called for a creation of an international organization to address the diplomatic crises like those that had sparked the war League of Nations- provide a forum for nations to discuss and settle their grievances without war

The Allies Reject Wilson’s Plan Georges Clemenceau-French premier angry about German invasions David Lloyd George-British Prime Minister, “Make Germany Pay” Peace Conference did not include Central Powers (losing side – against tradition) or Russia, who lost a lot of territory. Treaty of Versailles- created new nations, shifted boundaries, barred Germany from maintaining an Army & forced Germany to admit sole responsibility for the war (“war guilt clause”) Germany made to pay reparations- or war damages - amounting to 33 billion

Treaty’s Weaknesses Flaws in the treaty were the roots of postwar international problems that would eventually lead to WWII Treaty humiliated Germany War-Guilt Clause There was no way Germany could pay the bill (war reparations) Russia was excluded from the peace conference and lost more territory than Germany (Russia had the most causalities in war and fought for 3 years)

Debate of the Treaty Some believed treaty was too harsh A few felt that the League of Nations threatened US isolationism policy and the constitutional right of Congress to declare war Wilson travelled the US and spoke in defense of the League of Nations; Became ill on October 2, 1919 and suffered a stroke Wilson’s major political opponent to the League of Nations was Henry Cabot Lodge. On behalf of other conservative US Senators he called for the inclusion of Congress’s Constitutional power to declare war US Senate rejected the League of Nations and signed a separate treaty w/ Germany in 1921

THE LEGACY OF THE WAR Many Americans looked forward to return to “normalcy” World War I had many changes in the U.S. Strengthened military Social change for African Americans and Women Called WWI “the war to end all wars” Treaty of Versailles settled nothing Adolf Hitler emerged as an angry WWI vet and rose to power in Germany

Legacy of the War People wanted to return to normalcy but the war had changed the world. CHANGE IN THE US: war turned us into a worldwide political & military power; a lot of social change occurred for African Americans and women; immigrants were dealing with attitudes of fear and hatred. CHANGES IN EUROPE: physical destruction; devastating economic and human costs; political instability & violence that would continue on; Communism emerged in Russia & Fascism in Italy, Spain and Germany UNDECIDED GLOBAL ISSUES WOULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO WWII. These words from a German WWI veteran sounded an ominous warning…

THE YEARS TO COME “IT CANNOT BE THAT TWO MILLION GERMANS SHOULD HAVE FALLEN IN VAIN… NO, WE DO NOT PARDON; WE DEMAND – VENGEANCE.” Within 2 decades the world would again be plunged into a massive war…WWII. Can you guess who spoke those words above?

Answer ADOLPH HITLER