1. Chapter 19, Section 3
Wilson, War, and Peace

2. America Gives the Allies the Edge
Stalemate along the Western Front in France
US was the “great unknown”
Could US raise, train, equip and deploy an army fast enough to influence the outcome of the war?
In anticipation, Germany renewed unrestricted submarine warfare
Allied forces felt the impact immediately

3. Allied Convoys Protect Shipping
Allies lost crucial supplies
Formed convoys—groups of merchant ships that sailed together—offered protection from German submarines

4. The Allies Struggle Exhausted by years of fighting
Russia—March 1917, moderate democratic revolution overthrew Czar Nicholas II, but Russia kept fighting
November 1917, radical communists led by Vladimir Lenin again revolted and gained control of Russia
Russia quit fighting in Mid-December
March 3, 1918—treaty ended the war between Germany and Russia ending the war on the Eastern Front
Spring 1918 Germany launched a fierce offensive on the Western front
Allies organize under the command of French General Ferdinand Foch

5. American Troops join the fight
June 1917 American troops, under the command of General John J. Pershing, arrive in France
Early 1918 large numbers of American troops arrive
Germans exhausted and overwhelmed
Offensives were turned-back; momentum stalled
Americans troops 1st on the defensive—2nd Battle of Marne
And then on the offensive—Battle of Cantigny
American troops learned quickly and fought bravely
American War hero—Alvin York of Tennessee
369th Infantry of African-American soldiers earned the Croix de Guerre—French award for bravery

6. Wilson Promotes Peace Without Victory
Lenin called the war nothing more than an imperialistic land-grab
Exposed secret treaties that Russia had made with the other Allies in which they agreed to divide the empires of their enemies
The righteousness of the war came under scrutiny
To Wilson, the war was never about economic gain, it was about preserving peace and freedom
January 22, 1917, Wilson delivered a speech to Congress entitled, “Peace Without Victory”
(US declared war on Germany April 2, 1917)
Wilson Delivered his 14-Points speech on January 8, He answered Lenin’s charges and gave Germany some hope for peace with honor

7. Wilson’s 14-Points Wilson delivered a speech to Congress Jan. 8, 1918
Promoted openness—Transparency
Encouraged independence
Supported freedom
Seas
Trade
Self-determination—the of people to choose their own form of government
Moved toward ending colonialism
Critical of:
Secret treaties or deals
Supported open diplomacy
Supported the creation of a League of Nations

8. The War Ends November 11, 1918 Germany surrendered
1.3 million American soldiers served
50,000 died
230,000 were wounded
5 million Allied and million Central Powers troops died
6.5 million civilians died

9. Peace Conference at Versailles, Jan. 18, 1919
Wilson went himself with a delegation—no other President had ever done that
Left behind Senator Henry Cabot Lodge (a foreign policy expert)
Wilson was idealistic and his idealism didn’t impress the Allied leaders
The “Big Four”
Woodrow Wilson—US
David Lloyd George—Britain
Vittorio Emanuele Orland0—Italy
Georges Clemenceau—France
Insisted that Germany make reparations

10. Allies Create a League of Nations
3 of the “Big Four” chipped away at Wilson’s 14-Points
Lost freedom of the seas
Free Trade
Liberation of colonial holdings
General disarmament
Wilson wouldn’t compromise on the League of Nations part of the treaty
Treaty signed June 28, 1919

11. Problems with the Peace
National self-determination ignored
Groups of Germans found themselves attached to non- German nations
Same for Austrian nations
Break up of the Ottoman Empire resulted in diverse ethnic groups being clustered together randomly with no consideration of religious or ethnic differences
It was a mess

12. America Rejects the Treaty
German-Americans thought the treaty was punitive
Irish-Americans disappointed that the treaty didn’t address an independent Ireland
Republican –controlled Senate Foreign Relations Committee not likely to support it
Republican-controlled Senate not likely to ratify it
Irreconcilables (senators) opposed the League of Nations
Reservationists (senators) opposed the way the treaty was written
Article 10 and declaration of war
Sept. 25, 1919, President Wilson suffered a stroke

13. Senate Rejects the Versailles Treaty
The United States never ratified the Treaty of Versailles, nor did it join the League of Nations
Instead, in 1921 Congress approved resolutions formally ending hostilities with Germany and the Austro- Hungarian government
This weakened the League of Nations
Without US support, they were unable to maintain peace among nations

14. The Treaty
Signed on 28 June 1919—exactly 5 years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
German concessions:
War Guilt
Territorial changes
25,000 sq mi
7,000,000 people
 Renounce sovereignty over former colonies
Military restrictions
Demobilize personnel
Reduce arms, equipment
Reparations—Compensate the Allied Powers
$400 billion US dollars in todays dollars ( —92 years later)
Guarantees—Allied occupation

15. German Reparations