A Flawed Peace

Jan. 18, 1919: conference at Palace of Versailles (Paris Peace Conference) 32 countries represented

I. The Allies Meet & Debate

The Big Four: Woodrow Wilson (U.S.) Georges Clemenceau (Fr.) David Lloyd George (G.B.) Vittorio Orlando (Italy)

Russia not represented (civil war) Germany & allies not represented

A. Wilson’s Plan for Peace

Jan. 1918: Pres. Wilson drew up peace plan Fourteen Points:

First four: End to secret treaties, freedom of seas, free trade, reduced nat’l

armies & navies Fifth:

Adjustment of colonies w/fairness toward colonial peoples Six thru Thirteen:

Change borders & create new nations *Fourteenth Point:

Proposed “general association of nations”

A. The Versailles Treaty

Brit. & Fr. = destroy Germany! Compromise

The Treaty of Versailles (June 28, 1919) League of Nations created (Fourteenth Point) Punished Germany:

Lost territory & most of military Article 231: “war guilt clause” –war reparations!

$32 bill. (1919) $394 bill. (2005)

Territories = mandates of Allies

II. A Troubled Treaty

Versailles Treaty = 1 of 5 treaties Created bitter feelings

A. The Creation of New Nations

Western powers = separate treaties w/others Aust-Hung., Bulgaria, Ottomans

New countries: Aust-Hung: Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, &

Yugoslavia Ottoman Emp: Turkey Russia: lost land

B. Peace Built on “Quicksand”

Treaty of Versailles not successful U.S. rejected treaty (League of Nations) German = bitter & hatred Colonies’ independence was DENIED Italy & Japan WWII