THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES The Big Four Paris

THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES

The Big Four

Paris Peace Conference 1919 � At the Paris peace conference at the end of the war the Big Four (France, United States, Italy, and Great Britain) negotiated the Treaty of Versailles � The Treaty of Versailles outlined the post-war expectations and what should be done about the main aggressor, Germany.

Related Issue 2 focus question: � To what extent should national interests be pursued? � How does this relate to the Treaty of Versailles?

Woodrow Wilson’s “Fourteen Points” � 10 months before the war’s end, American President Wilson outlined a blueprint for peace. � His program included a plan for free trade, reduction in arms and emphasized selfdetermination. � He also emphasized human rights and a humane treatment of Germany after the war.

Read Wilson’s Fourteen Points and answer the questions at the end of the document.

National interests and the Treaty of Versailles � Each of the Big Four had a different idea about how Germany should be treated � Each had their own agenda and chose to pursue national interests rather than international interests

� France - wanted revenge. � Most of the major battles occurred in France and the country was physically and psychologically devastated. � France wanted to cripple Germany to the extent that they could not fight another war. � Britain – wanted Germany to pay for the damages of the war. � Britain also wanted to secure its colonial interests by limiting Germany’s naval abilities and maintain British naval superiority.

� Italy – Italy began the war as an ally of Germany but traded sides after it was promised land by the allies. The Italians wanted to make sure the land promise was honored. � United States – President Wilson thought that punishing and humiliating Germany was not a long term solution to peace. The American economy would benefit from a strong Germany

The Treaty of Versailles: Conditions placed on Germany 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Army of no more than 100, 000 men and no tanks. Navy to be reduced. No submarines. No air force whatsoever. Disputed territory of Alsace-Lorraine returned to France Lost all colonies in Africa, China, and Islands in Pacific

6. Rhineland was to be demilitarized 7. Anschluss (union) with Austria was forbidden 8. Germany had to recognize Poland Czechoslovakia which had been created in part with German territory 9. Germany had to sign Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles, the war guilt clause, which stated that Germany and its allies were responsible for the outbreak of the war

Reparations � A reparations committee determined that Germany owed US $33 billion for the death and damages of the war.

� � � Article 231 of the Treaty (the 'war guilt' clause) held Germany solely responsible for all 'loss and damage' suffered by the Allies during the war and provided the basis for reparations. In January 1921, this number was officially put at 269 billion gold marks, a sum that many economists deemed to be excessive. The economic problems that the payments brought, and German resentment at their imposition, are cited by some as one of the causes of the end of the Weimar Republic and the dictatorship of Adolf Hitler, which eventually led to the outbreak of World War II.

� Canada’s GDP, 2007 = 1, 400, 000, 000 � German Reparations = 451, 000, 000 (2007 dollars)

What does $1 Trillion look like � We'll start with a $100 dollar bill. Currently the largest U. S. denomination in general circulation. Most everyone has seen them, slighty fewer have owned them. Guaranteed to make friends wherever they go.

� A packet of one hundred $100 bills is less than 1/2" thick and contains $10, 000. Fits in your pocket easily and is more than enough for week or two of shamefully decadent fun.

� Believe it or not, this next little pile is $1 million dollars (100 packets of $10, 000). You could stuff that into a grocery bag and walk around with it.

� While a measly $1 million looked a little unimpressive, $100 million is a little more respectable. It fits neatly on a standard pallet. . .

� And $1 BILLION dollars. . . now we're really getting somewhere. . .

Next we'll look at ONE TRILLION dollars. What is a trillion dollars? Well, it's a million. It's a thousand billion. It's a one followed by 12 zeros. You ready for this? It's pretty surprising. Go ahead. . . �

And notice those pallets are double stacked.

Humiliation and Punishment � Germany was not invited to be involved with the Treaty of Versailles until the terms had already been decided. � Most historians believe that the Treaty of Versailles and the war guilt clause helped pave the way for WWII

The United States: Pursuit of National Interests � � The United States never ratified the treaty. Some favored isolationism and opposed the League of Nations, others lamenting the excessive reparations. As a result, the US never joined the League of Nations and later negotiated a separate peace treaty with Germany which confirmed the reparation payments and other provisions of the Treaty of Versailles but explicitly excluded all articles related to the League of Nations.

Draft your own Treaty � In hindsight we know that the Treaty of Versailles was a major cause of WWII. � Based on the information you have collected, draft your own 10 point Treaty that you believe would have helped to avoid another World War. - consider how Germany would feel about your conditions

� Was the German response to the Treaty of Versailles justified? �Take a stand on whether the treaty was fair or unfair, with specific evidence to justify your ideas.

Open books to page 153 in text � Read page 153 as a class

Definitions and concepts: page 153 - 163 � � � � Expansionism Imperialism Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere Manchuria: What happened? Facism Benito Mussolini Abyssinia: What happened? Lebensraum