The Treaty of Versailles The Big Four Woodrow

The Treaty of Versailles

The Big Four • Woodrow Wilson (US) • Georges Clemenceau (Fra) • David Lloyd George (GB) • Vittorio Orlando (Ita)

Wilson’s Goals Idealism The Fourteen Points

Wilson: An intellectual Opposed to War Tried to Keep the US Neutral

Wilson’s 14 Points • “Open covenants, openly arrived at” (no secret diplomacy) • Freedom of the Seas

Wilson’s 14 Points • Removal of Tariffs • Arms Reduction

Wilson’s 14 Points • Fair Colonial Policies • Self-Determination (boundary changes)

Wilson’s 14 Points • #14 League of Nations

European Powers’ Goals Revenge Security Fear of Another War

WWI was different for the Europeans than it was the Americans

Wilson’s Goals Conflict with European Powers’ Goals Wilson: Everlasting Peace vs. Europe: Revenge

Major Provisions of Treaty of Versailles • A League of Nations • (Wilson’s 14 th Point) • - international association of nations • - collective security • -discussion, not warfare • Excluded: Russia, Germany • (eventually, US)

War Guilt and Reparations /Germany = admit sole responsibility for WWI. /Reparations: To compensate victors for costs of war To be paid by Germany $33 billion over 30 years

Territorial Changes in the Treaty of Versailles

Nations Losing Territory: /Germany /Russia /Ottoman Empire /Austria-Hungary

Special Losses For Germany • Polish Corridor • Surrenders colonies • Returns Alsace-Lorraine • French Border to Rhine River

New Nations Created Finland Estonia Latvia Lithuania Poland Czechoslovakia Austria Hungary Yugoslavia

Mandates Admin by Great Britain France Palestine Syria Iraq Lebanon Transjordan

Arguments over ratification of Treaty of Versailles in the U. S. Senate • Senate’s Constitutional Role: –Ratify treaties –“Advise and Consent” –Article II, Section 2 – 2/3 Approval needed

Issues Affecting US Acceptance • Fear of US drawn into Euro Troubles • Political in-fighting

Three Groups in Senate: 1 l 1. Wilsonians (D) -immediate ratification

Three Groups in Senate: 2 l 2. “Irreconcilables” - Borah, La Follette -oppose US membership in international L of N

Three Groups in Senate: 3 l 3. “Moderates”/”Reservationists” - favored a watered-down version to protect American interests

Amended Treaty of Versailles • Lodge: Congressional approval for US troops • defeated by Wilsonians and “irreconcilables”

Henry Cabot Lodge

Original Treaty of Versailles • Defeated by “Reservationists” and “Irreconcilables”

A Final Defeat for the Treaty of Versailles • Presidential Election of 1920 • Warren G. Harding (R) • Seen as a mandate against the League