1. End of World War I

2. Do Now

3. Review – Final Battles Leading To End of WWI
Belleau Wood
Battle of Argonne Forest

4. Armistice Ends the War
September 1918 German generals told their kaiser they couldn’t win the war
October 4, Germany asks President Wilson for an armistice
Wilson sets two conditions
Germany must accept his plan for peace
German emperor must abdicate- give up power
Germany continues to lose ground and morale
November 9- German emperor resigns
November 11, WWI ends

5. The Costs of War Generation of young Europeans gone
8-9 million people died in battle
4 million Russian, French & British killed
2 million Germans killed
100,000 US killed
More than 20 million on both sides wounded
Civilians died of diseases
Northern France=ruined
1918- influenza epidemic

6. After the War
Wilson first American president to meet foreign leaders on foreign soil
Goal: make the world safe for democracy with lasting peace
Europeans wanted to punish Germans severely for the war

7. Wilson’s Fourteen-Point Peace Plan
Before war ended, Wilson outlined his peace plan
Fourteen Points
Called for an end of secret agreements, freedom of the seas, free trade, limit on arms, peaceful settlements & self determination
Fourteenth Point most important

8. Problems with the Points
Wilson convinces Allies to accept the Points as a basis for peace
Problems
Points too vague
Conflicted with reality
Allies more concerned with protecting their own interests
Paris Peace Conference
Big Four
Allies that decided the key issues
Wilson (US), David Lloyd George (UK), Clemenceau (France), Orlando (Italy)

9. Disagreement Among the Allies
Wilson opposed punishing the defeated powers
Other Allies want revenge
Insist on reparations
Includes a war guilt clause
Germany can not rebuild its military strength
Result: Wilson has to compromise on his Fourteen Points

10. Harsh Terms for Germany
June Treaty of Versailles aka Peace of Paris completed
Germany was not a part of the peace talks
Germany had to take full blame for the war
Germany had to pay Allies huge reparations
Limited the size of Germany’s military
Alsace-Lorraine returned to France
Stripped Germany of overseas colonies

11. A Few Victories for Wilson
Gained a few of his Fourteen Points
Eastern Europe- new nations formed
Some dissatisfied with new boundaries
Greatest achievement- The League of Nations
New Battle- persuade Senate to approve the treaty and participation in the League of Nations

12. Critics of the Treaty Most Americans favored the treaty
Vocal minority opposed it
Isolationists oppose the League of Nations
Henry Cabot Lodge
Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Accepted the League, but wanted changes
Wilson refuses to make ANY changes to the League

13. Defeated Treaty
September Wilson campaigned across the country for the League
September 25- Wilson exhausted, doctors cancel the rest of the trip
November Senate rejects the Versailles Treaty
US did not sign a peace treaty with Germany until 1921
League fails without US as a member