1. End of WWI

2. Allied Victory in Europe
Russia dropped out of war allowing Germany to focus on the western front
Germany’s offensive failed- unable to reach Paris
America gave the allies a great advantage
Germany surrendered in November of 1918
America had been in the war just over a year
US still had 117,000 killed

3. Wilson and Peace Peace without Victory Wilson’s 14 points
Lenin- imperialistsic land grab, Wilson- peace and freedom
Peace without victory- no greed or vengeance from the victors. Promoting openness, encouraging independence, an supporting freedom
14 points- even before the war ended- they were dropped over the german people- so they thought those would be the terms of peace.
- freedom of the seas, free trade, no secret diplomatic agreements (lenin), stop building up militaries, restore Russian territory, redraw European countries borders so each nation has their own government (Belgium, Austria-Hungary broken up, Italy, Ottoman empire broken up, Poland created), new peace keeping organization- League of Nations.
inspired by these ideas the german people will overthrow the Kaiser (German leader) in Nov of 1918

4. Paris Peace Conference
Allied powers vs Wilson
Treaty of Versailles
League of Nations
Split up parts of Germany
No more German colonies
Diminish German military
War Guilt Clause and Reparation payments
Wilsons idea of Peace without Victory was not widely accepted- wanted to punish Germany, they were seen as the aggressor and lost, was against losin the land they will gain from winning the war, was not involved in negotiations in Paris. Wanted them to pay reparations- will pay these off in 2010
Treaty- 1. created League of Nations (Germany not allowed to join) 2. split up Germany- parts went to Belgium, France, Poland, and Denmark) 3. strip germay of all its colonies 4. greatly diminished germen military (lost navy, army reduced to police force) 5. forced to sign war guilt clause taking blame for war therefore- Reparations
austria- hungary was also divded up into smaleer states, Turkey (ottoman empire) sultan was overthrown and became a republic- lost most territories in the middle east,

5. League of Nations Wilson and the Senate
Irreconcilables and reservationists
When Wilson returned to US to had to have 2/3 of senate to ratify treaty, in the senatorial elections of 1918 republican had gained control of the senate (Wilson-democrat)
Wilson refused to accept any compromises or changes of the treaty, and told democtrats to refuse the ratification with the republicans modifications, - republicans felt league of nationswould draw the US in to another European war,
Irreconciables- did not want the league of nations in any form (strict isolationists) reservationists- just wanted some changes to the treaty and league
Wilson began campaigning to the people for the treaty to get the senate to pass it, went on a grueling speaking tour had a stroke while in Colorado was brought back to DC where he was incoherent but alive- edith Wilson
Senate will not ratify the treaty with Germany until 1921