The Treaty of Versailles US HISTORY US Entry

The Treaty of Versailles US HISTORY

US Entry into the War Why is the US reluctant to enter into the war? How did the war change the United States?

The War Ends With the entrance of the US into the war, there was a sustained offensive on the part of the Allies. The Central powers collapse in Fall of 1918. Germany overthrows the Kaiser and institutes a republic in 1919.

Woodrow Wilson Attempts Peace President Woodrow Wilson goes to Paris to negotiate peace between the warring factions. The conference is held at the Palace of Versailles Wilson outlines his peace plan The 14 points plan The first five points dealt with what Wilson saw as the way to prevent future war No secret treaties between nations Freedom Tariffs Arms of the seas and other economic barriers should be lowered should be reduced Colonies should consider the interests of colonial peoples

The League of Nations The 14 th point outlined a League of Nations Wilson saw this as a way to prevent future wars through greater connectedness A forum where countries could have their grievances settled without going to war

4 main problems Operation: Central Weaken Germany Powers are not invited to peace talks 1. Germany is forced to admit that they are solely responsible for the war (emotional) 2. Germany was forced to pay huge reparations for the war. They could never pay them back. (economic) 3. 4. Germany was stripped of its military. (protection) Germany is forced to give back land gained in war. (territory)

Problems with Versailles The Central Powers were not invited Neither were the minor combatants The main four powers (US, UK, France and Italy) outlined the treaty Wilson conceded on most of his 14 points in order to secure the League of Nations The Allied Powers were obsessed with making sure Germany “paid” for their aggression. Take full blame of the war Ordered They Had to pay war-reparations (64 billion) could not field an army to give back territory to France

Problems with the Treaty Ø The Russian Empire was excluded from the negotiations and lost more territory than Germany did Ø The treaty ignored the pleas of colonial peoples who were seeking self determination Ø Specifically Vietnam

Wilson is Defeated The Republican Senate at home opposed the treaty Wilson refused to compromise with them on changes The Treaty never passes the US Senate We The sign a separate treaty with Germany in 1921 US never joins The League of Nations Wilson He suffers a stroke in October of 1919 languishes until he leaves office in 1921