1. WILSON FIGHTS FOR PEACE
Chapter 11 Section 4
MAIN IDEA:
European leaders opposed most of Wilson’s peace plan, and the U.S. Senate failed to ratify the peace treaty.
OBJECTIVES:
Summarize Wilson’s Fourteen Points
Describe the Treaty of Versailles and international and domestic reaction to it.
Explain some of the consequences of the war.

2. Wilson Presents His Plan
Fourteen Points-Plan for World Peace
Fourteen Points speech given before Congress, points divided into three groups
First 5 points Wilson believed had to be addressed to prevent another war

3. 14 POINTS
There should be no secret treaties among nations.
Freedom of the seas should be maintained for all.
Tariffs and other economic barriers among nations should be lowered or abolished in order to foster free trade.
Arms should be reduced “to the lowest point consistent with domestic safety, thus lessening the possibility of military responses during diplomatic crises
Colonial policies should consider the interests of the colonial peoples as well as the interests of the imperialistic powers

4. 14-points continued 6-13 dealt with boundary changes
14th point called for a creation of and international organization to address the diplomatic crises like those that had sparked the war
League of Nations- provide a forum for nations to discuss and settle their grievances without war

5. The Allies Reject Wilson’s Plan
Georges Clemenceau-French premier angry about German invasions
David Lloyd George-British Prime Minister, “Make Germany Pay”
Peace Conference did not include Central Powers or Russia
Treaty of Versailles-created new nations, shifted boundaries, and barred Germany from maintaining an Army
Germany made to pay reparations-pay war damages amounting to 33 billion

6. Treaty’s Weaknesses
Flaws in the treaty sowed the seeds of postwar international problems that eventually lead to WWII
Treaty humiliated Germany
War-Guilt Clause-forced Germany to admit sole responsibility for starting WWI
No way Germany could pay the bill
Russia was excluded from the peace conference and lost more territory than Germany (Russia had the most causalities in war and fought for 3 years)

7. Debate of the Treaty Some believed treaty was too harsh
A few felt that the League of Nations threatened US isolationism and the constitutional right of Congress to declare war
Wilson set out in the US and spoke about the League of Nations
Became ill on October 2, 1919 and suffered a stroke
US Senate rejected the League of Nations and signed a separate treaty w/ Germany in 1921

8. THE LEGACY OF THE WAR
Many Americans looked forward to return to “normalcy”
World War I had many changes in the U.S.
Strengthened military
Social change for African Americans and Women
Called WWI “the war to end all wars”
Treaty of Versailles settled nothing
Adolf Hitler emerged as an angry WWI vet and rose to power in Germany

9. Vocabulary Fourteen Points League of Nations Georges Clemenceau
David Lloyd George
Treaty of Versailles
Reparations
War-Guilt Clause
Henry Cabot Lodge
Big Four