The Treaty of Versailles League of Nations The

■ The Treaty of Versailles & League of Nations

■ The world was transformed by WWI: – 22 million soldiers & civilians had died –The war cost an estimated $338 billion

22 million dead

20 million wounded

WWI Deaths (Not Including Wounded or POW)

Devastation in Europe Due to WWI Before After the. War: Villageof of. Esnes

Devastation in Europe Due to WWI Before After the. War: Hotelde delala. Princerie, Verdun

Wilson’s Fourteen Points ■ President Woodrow Wilson believed that America ought to take a lead in shaping the peace process ■ Near the end of the war, President Wilson developed his peace plan known as the Fourteen Points: –Based on eliminating the reasons for WWI (militarism, imperialism) –Hoped to avoid all future wars by creating an international forum to discuss & arbitrate problems

Group Activity: Examining Wilson’s Fourteen Points ■ In groups, examine Wilson’s Fourteen Points: – Using the chart in your notes, write in your own words what each section of Wilson’s peace plan means – Develop an image or symbol that captures the main idea for each section of the plan – Do not write anything in the column titled “Was this point part of the Treaty of Versailles? ” (We will do this a bit later) – Answer the questions below the chart & be prepared for a quick class discussion

Wilson’s Fourteen Points ■ President Wilson’s Fourteen Points contained three main themes: ■ (Points 1 -5) Create new rules that would eliminate the causes of WWI –No more secret treaties –Reduction of militaries –Freedom of the seas –International control over colonies to end imperialism

Wilson’s Fourteen Points ■ (Points 6 -13) Divide weak empires like Austria-Hungary & the Ottoman Empire into new nations based on national “self-determination” self-determination –New nations should have their borders drawn with consideration to ethnic & national identities –New nations should be free to choose their own governments

Wilson’s Fourteen Points ■ (Point 14) To create a League of Nations to settle all future international problems by compromise rather than by war

The Treaty of Versailles, 1919 ■ Wilson traveled to the Paris Peace Conference in 1919 to help create the Treaty of Versailles: –He hoped his Fourteen Points would become the framework for the peace treaty –But, Wilson quickly learned that European leaders did not share his vision for a “peace without victory” & wanted Germany to be punished

British Prime Minister David Lloyd George French Premier George Clemenceau “The Big Four” Italian Prime Minister Vittorio Orlando U. S. President Woodrow Wilson

During the peace process, Wilson had to compromise some of his Fourteen Points

The Treaty of Versailles, 1919 ■ Delegates agreed to create a League of Nations that included: –General Assembly of 27 nations with an Executive Council –Court of International Justice –Agreement that arbitration & economic sanctions would be used to settle conflicts –An agreement that member nations would work together to stop future acts of aggression

The Treaty of Versailles, 1919 ■ Other treaty provisions included: –Austria-Hungary was split in two, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, & Poland were formed –Germany had to accept the “war guilt clause, ” pay $33 billion in reparations, & lost all colonies –No mention of free trade; No end to imperialism, no reduction in militaries for any of the Allies

Land was. Europe taken from Germany Ottoman Empire given tothe was Central was. The redrawn to&reduce Poland; Germany’s border divided; with Britain France & France was power of the Austro-Hungarian Empire demilitarized to avoid gained a future mandates invasion in the Middle East New nations were created from territory Europe & Middle East taken from Russia (who left WWI early Before & After after the Bolshevik Revolution) World War I

The Treaty Versailles, 1919 But, President Wilsonof could not sign the treaty because Article I of the Constitution gives the ■ On June 28, 1919, the Treaty of Senate the power to ratify all treaties Versailles was signed by Germany But, many U. S. Senators did. WWI not like the treaty & officially ended because of the League of Nations

Closure Activity ■ Compare Wilson’s Fourteen Points with the provisions in the Treaty of Versialles. On your chart, write down whether Wilson’s ideas made it into the final treaty ■ Read “Hitler’s Reaction to the Treaty of Versailles” –What criticisms does Hitler have? –What does he say needs to be done to save Germany? –Why do historians say that the Treaty of Versailles led to WWII?

Points 1 -5: New International Rules? Points 6 -13: Divided Empires, New Nations, Self-Determination? Point 14: A League of Nations?

■ Essential Question: Question –Why did the USA refuse to ratify the Treaty of Versailles or join the League of Nations? ■ Warm-Up Question: –What were the major themes of Wilson’s Fourteen Points? –Why don’t you think more of his Fourteen Points made it into the Treaty of Versailles?

The Treaty of Versailles, 1919 ■ All the major European powers signed the Treaty of Versailles & joined the League of Nations ■ But, the Senate was divided about what joining the League would mean for the future of the United States

Group Activity: Debate over the League of Nations ■ The class will be divided into groups: – Read your assigned role & form an “expert group” with students from other groups who were assigned the same role you were – When finished, return to your original group & participate in a Senate debate to decide if the U. S. should join the League – Use the chart provided to take notes during your expert group & group discussion

Debrief: Overview of Roles ■ The Senate was divided: – Strong Internationalists supported U. S. membership in the League of Nations – Mild Internationalists supported the League but wanted to avoid future wars – Mild Reservationists rejected the League over fears of being forced into future wars – Strong Reservationists wanted major changes to the League if the U. S. were to join – Irreconcilables who opposed the League & wanted to maintain U. S. isolationism

Read “U. S. Rejection of the Treaty of Versailles”

Members of the League of Nations (in black) The U. S. never joined the League & signed its own peace treaty with Germany in 1921

Conclusions ■ The impact of the Great War: –The U. S. began the 20 th century as an imperial power & reluctantly entered WWI to protect free trade –Involvement in WWI led to changes for women & blacks, an economic boom, & the restriction of liberties –The U. S. played a major role in the peace process, but refusal to join the League weakened the ability of world leaders to stop World War II

The following slides are hidden but can be used as teaching points if needed