1. Preparing for Peace 1918

2. –although hostilities ended in November, the shape of postwar Europe had yet to be decided –the Central Powers, Germany in particular, anticipated a settlement based on Wilson’s Fourteen Points –victors, especially England and France, found many of its provisions unacceptable –Wilson journeyed to Paris and attempted personally to guide course of peace conference

3. –with Wilson out of the country and preoccupied with the peace conference, the domestic political situation deteriorated –there was growing discontent over his farm and tax policies; despite its gains during the war, labor was restive –moreover, Wilson had exacerbated his political difficulties by making a partisan appeal for the election of a Democratic Congress in 1918 –Republicans won majorities in both houses, and Wilson faced a hostile Congress

4. –the President compounded his problems by failing to appoint any leading Republicans or any members of the Senate to the peace commission, thus making it less likely that the Senate would ratify the treaty

5. Peace Conference/Versailles Treaty –the “Big Four,” David Lloyd George of England, Wilson of the United States, Georges Clemenceau of France, and Vittorio Orlando of Italy, dominated the Paris Peace Conference –Far more concerned over security, war guilt, and reparations than Wilsonian goals of justice and international harmony, the European victors all but ignored Wilsonian goals of open diplomacy, freedom of the seas, and national self-determination –Wilson expected that League of Nations would make up for deficiencies in Versailles Treaty

6. The Treaty of Versailles The Who’s and What’s

7. The Big Four at the Paris Peace Talks (1919) Woodrow Wilson - President, United States Georges Clemenseau - Premier of France David Lloyd George - Prime Minister of Britain Vittorio Orlando – Foreign Minister of Italy

8. Woodrow Wilson Idealist - thought WWI would be “war to end all wars” Fourteen Points (plan for lasting peace) –self-determination –peace without victory –disarmament –fair treatment of colonial peoples –League of Nations

9. Georges Clemenseau France had been destroyed in WWI –wanted protection from further Germany attacks –get rid of German military –make Germany pay for war

10. David Lloyd George Most afraid of German u-boats –wanted to get rid of German navy –wanted German colonies –wanted to get paid for losses

11. Vittorio Orlando Italy entered war because of promise of cities in Austria. –Was given Tryrol and Trieste –demanded more but when others refused he walked out. –The Big Four became the Big Three

12. Versailles 1919 Weimar Republic, German democratic government, was forced to sign it. Who is not there? Germany!! The Soviet Union: Dropped out after the Bolsheviks took control

13. War Reparations $5 billion within 2 years $28 billion (after the damages were tallied)

14. German military 100,000 soldiers 6 warships no planes no submarines

15. War Guilt Clause Germany was the blame for starting the war. The most hated part of the treaty.

16. Mandate system Mandates - colonies of former Central Powers to be given to Allied nations To be given their independence sometime in future. From Ottoman Empire: –Syria (France) –Egypt and Palestine (Britain)

18. The Senate and the League of Nations –to pacify American opponents, Wilson persuaded the Great Powers to exclude “domestic questions,” such as tariff and immigration policies and the Monroe Doctrine from the purview of the League; but this did not ensure its acceptance with Americans –Senate Republicans split into three anti- League camps –the “irreconcilables” rejected League membership on any terms

19. –“mild reservationists” backed membership, subject to minor revisions of League’s charter –the majority Republican opposition, the “strong reservationists” led by Henry Cabot Lodge of Massachusetts, would accept the League only if American sovereignty were fully protected –Wilson refused to yield any ground and undertook a nationwide speaking tour to rally support for the treaty –at Pueblo, Colorado, Wilson collapsed and had to return to Washington –Wilson rejected all compromise, and the Senate rejected the Treaty

20. Demobilization –almost immediately after signing the Armistice, the government removed its economic controls, blithely assuming that the economy could readjust itself without direction –millions of men were demobilized rapidly –these swift and unregulated changes in the economy soon created problems –inflation spiraled; by 1920 the cost of living stood at twice the level of 1913

21. –during 1919, one out of five employees engaged in strike actions –then came a precipitous economic decline; between July 1920 and March 1922, prices fell and unemployment surged