1. Wilson and the Treaty of Versailles “God gave us the Ten Commandments, and we broke them. Wilson gives us the Fourteen Points. We shall see.” -Georges Clemenceau, French Premier

2. Main Ideas World War I is over- the Treaty of Versailles The Big Four argue over Peace Terms The Battle for Ratification of the Treaty of Versailles Postwar Problems

3. The Treaty of Versailles The peace conference following the armistice took place in the Palace of Versailles outside Paris, beginning in January of 1919 Every Allied nation was represented at the conference Before this, no U.S. president had ever traveled abroad to attend a diplomatic conference Wilson decided to go to defend his Fourteen Points, however he was criticized heavily by Republicans for taking mostly Democrats with him (only 1 Republican) Palace Grounds at Versailles

4. The Big Four Other heads of state at Versailles made it clear that they wanted both revenge against Germany and compensation in the form of indemnities and territory (did not share Wilson’s idea of a “peace without victory”) The Big Four included: (1)David Lloyd George of Great Britain (2)Georges Clemenceau of France (3)Vittorio Orlando of Italy (4)Woodrow Wilson of the U.S. After months of argument, Wilson agreed to compromise on his 14 points (only the League of Nations or Article X was accepted) The Big Four at Versailles

5. Peace Terms When the peace conference adjourned in June of 1919, the Treaty of Versailles included the following terms: (1)Germany was to be disarmed and stripped of colonies (2)Germany would also admit guilt for the war and accept French occupation of the Rhineland for 15 years (3)Germany would also pay a huge sum of money in reparations to Great Britain and France (4)Applying the principles of self determination, territories once controlled by Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia were taken by the Allies (independence was granted to Poland, Estonia, and other nations) (5)Signers of the treaty would join an international peacekeeping organization (League of Nations or Article X)

6. The Battle for Ratification Returning to the U.S., President Wilson had to win approval of two-thirds of the Senate for all parts of the Treaty of Versailles Republican senators raised objections to the League of Nations (Article X), arguing that U.S. membership in such a body might interfere with U.S. sovereignty Furthermore, it might also cause European nations to interfere in the Western Hemisphere (a violation of the Monroe Doctrine) The Gap in the Bridge the sign reads "This League of Nations Bridge was designed by the President of the U.S.A.” Cartoon from Punch magazine, 10 December 1920, satirizing the gap left by the USA not joining the League

7. Increased Partisanship Wilson was partly to blame for his trouble in winning Senate ratification All of the following were either missteps or serious ineptitude by the President: (1)He made the mistake in October 1918 of asking the American people to vote Democratic in the midterm elections as an act of patriotic loyalty (2)His plea backfired, Republicans won a solid majority in the House and Senate (3)Wilson needed cooperation with the Republicans in the Senate to ratify the Treaty of Versailles-instead he faced hostility with leading Republicans (Henry Cabot Lodge) Wilson appealed directly to the American people to accomplish his political goals

8. Opponents: Irreconcilables and ReservationistsIrreconcilables This faction consisted of about 12-14 Republican senators who would not accept U.S. membership in a League of Nations led by William Borah of Idaho (included Robert La Follette of Wisconsin and Hiram Johnson of California) Reservationists The larger group of senators, led by Henry Cabot Lodge, said they would accept a League of Nations if certain reservations were added to the treaty The “Mild reservationists” (12 senators, led by Frank Kellogg of Minnesota who wanted changes that would not weaken treaty The “Strong reservationists”: - 23 senators, led by Henry Cabot Lodge of Massachusetts - wanted major changes William E. Borah Henry Cabot Lodge

9. The Fight For Ratification in the U.S. Senate continued… Liberal opposition to the treaty: many believed the treaty was too harsh (punishment of Germany would set stage for future wars) many were disillusioned by the failure to reach goals set by Wilson set in the 14 Points, such as Wilson’s decision to let Japan keep the Chinese province of Shantung; this was viewed as a violation of self-determination for 30 million Chinese residents liberal newspapers like The New Republic charged that the treaty merely intensified a situation in which the greedy aspirations of nations might find fruit and did nothing to solve problems which had caused the war in the first place

10. Wilson’s Western Tour Wilson had the option of either accepting Lodge’s reservations (14 Reservations) or fighting for the treaty as it stood-Wilson decided to fight Wilson believed he could rally public support by going on a speaking tour to the West to promote a League of Nations On September 25, 1919, Wilson collapsed after delivering a speech in Colorado- He returned to Washington where he suffered a massive stroke from which he never fully recovered There after, Wilson’s wife Edith Wilson served as his steward, selecting issues for his attention and delegating other issues to his cabinet heads (may have impacted the treaty issue) Edith White Bolling Galt Wilson has been labeled "the Secret President" and "the first woman to run the government" for the role she played after her husband suffered a severe stroke. She has also been called "the first female president of the United States."

11. Why did the U.S. Senate fail to ratify the Treaty of Versailles? The strength of opposition forces? or Wilson’s stubbornness and poor handling of the situation? or A combination of both?

12. Consider the Following Wilson faced problems: (1)Republicans won control of both houses of Congress in November 1918 election. (2)Wilson took almost no Republican senators with him to Paris (3)He did not consult with the Senate before or after his departure to Paris (4)Wilson became less trustful of the press and stopped holding press conferences for them, preferring to use his propaganda unit, the Committee for Public Information (5)Wilson did not understand the economic problems (Demobilization, Farm Prices, and Labor Unrest) (6)Wilson suffered a stroke!

13. Rejection of the Treaty The Senate voted twice on the treaty question in November 1919 The treaty was defeated both times, with and without reservations In 1920, a number of Democrats joined the reservationist Republicans in voting for the treaty with reservations- an ailing Wilson directed his supporters to reject any reservations (they did and joined the irreconcilables) Not until after Wilson left office in 1921 did the U.S. officially end the war and make peace with a separate treaty with Germany The Treaty of Versailles was never ratified nor did the U.S. ever join the League of Nations January 16, 1920. U.S. Senate votes against U.S. participation in the League

14. Postwar Problems Americans had trouble adjusting from the patriotic fervor of wartime to the economic and social stresses of postwar uncertainties Demobilization: -During the war, 4 million American men were in uniform -after the war, men found it difficult to find jobs (some came back and took jobs from women and African-Americans) -falling farm prices coupled with factory closures led to unemployment and a recession Americans Glad to Be Home - Awaiting Trains for Demobilization Camp, Hoboken

15. Postwar Problems continued… The Red Scare: -In 1919, there was widespread unhappiness with the peace process and also growing fear of socialism fueled by the Communist takeover in Russia -labor unrest in the U.S. was steadily increasing leading to an anti- Communist hysteria known as the Red Scare -A series of bombings caused Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer to establish a special office under J. Edgar Hoover to gather information on radicals A "European Anarchist" attempts to destroy the Statue of Liberty in this 1919 political cartoon.

16. Postwar Problems continued… -Palmer ordered mass arrests of anarchists, socialists, and labor agitators -From Nov. 1919 to Jan. 1920, 6,000 people were arrested (500 were deported including radical Emma Goldman) -the scare faded as quickly as it arose (Palmer lost credibility and rising concerns about civil liberties caused the hysteria to erode) Emma Goldman's deportation photo, 1919

17. Postwar Problems continued… Labor conflict: -In a nation that valued free enterprise and rugged individualism, a large part of the American public regarded unions with distrust -this feeling softened with the Progressive Era (“square deal” and Clayton Antitrust Act) -During the war, unions made important gains-however a series of strikes in 1919 as well as fear of revolution turned public opinion against unions

18. Postwar Problems continued… Strikes of 1919: -The first major strike of 1919 was in Seattle (60,000 unionists held a peaceful strike) -In Boston, police went on strike to protest the firing of a few policemen who tried to unionize -Massachusetts Governor Calvin Coolidge sent the National Guard to break the strike -In September, workers for the U.S. Steel Corporation struck (State and federal troops were called out) -After considerable violence, the strike was broken in January of 1920 “Coming out of the Smoke" New York World October 11, 1919

19. Postwar Problems continued… Race Riots: -The migration of African Americans to northern cities during the war years increased racial tension -whites resented the increased competition for jobs and housing -Race riots erupted (1)East St. Louis, Illinois (1917) (2)Chicago (1919)- 38 people killed, 500 injured -Conditions in the South were no better, whites feared the return of black soldiers which led to racial violence (lynching) An African American man was stoned to death by whites during the Chicago Race Riot of 1919.

20. Timeline 1919 - U.S. Senate rejects Treaty of Versailles - Palmer raids - Schenck v. U.S.

21. Key Names, Events, and Terms Fourteen Points Treaty of Versailles Big Four David Lloyd George Georges Clemenceau Vittorio Orlando League of Nations Henry Cabot Lodge Fourteen Reservations Reservationists Irreconcilables Red Scare Palmer Raids Emma Goldman Strikes; Race Riots

22. Question The Treaty of Versailles was defended by President Wilson on the grounds that (a)large war reparations would satisfy the Allies (b)it represented the best thinking of the world’s political leaders (c)it provided for a League of Nations committed to preserving peace (d)Germany deserved to be treated harshly (e)there was nothing wrong with the treaty

23. Answer C: it provided for a League of Nations committed to preserving peace