The Treaty of Versailles The Whos and Whats

The Treaty of Versailles The Who’s and What’s

Commitment • Once the United States decided to commit to WWI, ALL citizens had to contribute • 1. Soldiers: Selective Service Act: Draft • Conscientious Objector: Moral beliefs forbids one to fight • 2. Money: Bernard Baruch: WIB • 3. Supplies: Conserve • 4. Public Opinion: George Creel: President – Committee on Public Information: “Educate” Public • 5. Loyalty: Espionage Act: “Treasonable” Newspaper Articles and Speeches Banned • *Schenck v. U. S. : Upheld against speech • *Abrams v. U. S. : Upheld against print

RECRUITMENT POSTERS

FINANCIAL POSTERS

Anti-German Posters

The Great Migration • Many African Americans Moved north for war industry jobs (Chicago…etc) • Many Mexican Immigrants enter the U. S. for war jobs (Los Angeles)

The “Great War” Ends! • By Oct. 1918: The tide of the war had been turned and Germany wanted peace • Wilson offered “ 14 point” peace plan • November 11 th, 1918 • Armistice signed • “The 11 th hour of the 11 th day of the 11 th month” 1918 • *8, 000 Soldiers killed

The Big Four at the Paris Peace Talks (1919) • Woodrow Wilson President, United States • Georges Clemenseau - Premier of France • David Lloyd George Prime Minister of Britain • Vittorio Orlando – Foreign Minister of Italy

Woodrow Wilson • Idealist - thought WWI would be “war to end all wars” • Fourteen Points (plan for lasting peace) – self-determination – peace without victory – disarmament – fair treatment of colonial peoples – League of Nations

Georges Clemenseau • France had been destroyed in WWI – wanted protection from further Germany attacks – get rid of German military – make Germany pay for war

David Lloyd George • Most afraid of German u-boats – wanted to get rid of German navy – wanted German colonies – wanted to get paid for losses

Vittorio Orlando • Italy entered war because of promise of cities in Austria. – Was given Tryrol and Trieste – demanded more but when others refused he walked out. – The Big Four became the Big Three

Treaty of Versailles • 1919 Weimar Republic, German democratic government, was forced to sign it.

War Reparations • $5 billion within 2 years • $28 billion (after the damages were tallied)

German military • • 100, 000 soldiers 6 warships no planes no submarines

Treaty of Versailles War Guilt Clause ``The Allied and Associated Governments affirm, and Germany accepts, the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the Allied and Associated Governments and their nationals have been subjected as a consequence of the war imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and her allies. '' Article 231 16

War Guilt Clause • Germany was the blame for starting the war. • The most hated part of the treaty.

Mandate system • Mandates - colonies of former Central Powers to be given to Allied nations • To be given their independence sometime in future. • From Ottoman Empire: – Syria (France) – Egypt and Palestine (Britain)

Borders changed • New countries – Czechoslovakia – Poland (Polish corridor split Germany in two) – Yugoslavia – Latvia – Estonia – Finland http: //www. learn. co. uk/versailles/1919/maps. htm

Treaty of Versailles Florida Holocaust Museum http: //www. flholocaustmuseum. org/history_wing/thirdreich/treaty_versailles. cfm 20

• • • WILSON’S PEACE PLAN “Fourteen Points” Peace w/o Victory 1. Ban Secret Treaties 2. Guarantee Freedom of the Seas 3. Remove International Tariff Barriers 4. Reduce Armaments 5. Adjust Colonial Claims (Respect Colonial Peoples) 6. Territory Changes Based on Self-Determination 7. Formation of a League of Nations *Other Points Dealt with Border Adjustments and the freeing of captured territories Henry Cabot Lodge: Did not support plan

America Rejects Treaty • • June 28, 1919: Treaty of Versailles Germany… 1. Lost Colonies (Alsace and Lorraine) 2. Lost Coal Mines 3. Forced to reduce army 4. Navy crippled 5. Germany had to pay $33 Billion in reparations – *Very Strict Terms* – “Irreconcilables”: Isolationists (did not like treaty) – Reservationists: Did not like wording in League of Nations Plan

League of Nations • In the Treaty of Versailles • Intent to prevent future wars • Opponents – would drag the country into unnecessary military commitments • Henry Cabot Lodge against League of Nations • Senate refuses to ratify Treaty of Versailles • Treaty NEVER ratified by United States

The Treaty seemed to satisfy the "Big Three" overall. • It made sure that Germany was too weak to start another European War, yet strong enough to help stop the spread of Communism. • It kept the French border with Germany safe from future German attacks. • It created the League of Nations. This would help promote peace and trade throughout the world.