1. Post WWI
USH-5.5

2. I. Peace Wilson is crucial at Versailles Peace Conference
He brings Fourteen Points
Plan to eliminate all wars
Limit navies
End secret treaties
Reduce arms
New nations
International peace organization – League of Nations

3. I. Peace
To get the League of Nations created, Wilson gives in to the Allies anger
War Guilt Clause
Blamed Germany for all of the death and destruction
Meant to make Germans feel badly and depressed
Reparations were placed on Germany
$33 billion in 1921
$439,947,150, in 2013
1233.2% increase

4. I. Peace
Many new nations created from German, Austrian, Russian, and Ottoman land
Yugoslavia
Hungary
Czechoslovakia
Poland
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania
Turkey
Ireland
Finland
Danzig (independent city)
Borders aren’t drawn well

5. II. Fight for League of Nations
In US Constitution, foreign policy is the executive branch
Senate ratifies all treaties
Wilson created the League of Nations but the Senate refused to ratify the treaty
Didn’t want to give up the ability to declare war
Didn’t want to join wars b/c the LoN said so

6. II. Fight for League of Nations
Wilson (D) refused to compromise with the Senate (R)
Wilson went on a cross country speaking tour
Wanted to get Democrats elected to Senate so they’d vote yes
Wilson had a stroke and still didn’t compromise
US never ratified the Treaty of Versailles
Made our own peace w/Ger.

7. II. Fight for League of Nations

8. III. The 1920s Election of 1920 Dem. Cox supported Wilson
Rep. Harding wanted a return to normalcy
People liked “make the world safe for democracy”
WWI violence changed their minds
Harding won and US became isolationist

9. III. The 1920s US became world’s leading economic power
Leading exports
Creditor nation – owed money by other nations
Financial capital
Still involved in Latin Amer.

10. III. The 1920s

11. IV. Waiting for WWII US never joined the League of Nations
Sent observers
Participated in international conferences
Helped Germany pay the war reparations w/loans
Dawes and Young Plans
Didn’t do anything as dictators rose in Italy and Germany