WORLD WAR I OVER Wilson and the Peace

WORLD WAR I ---- OVER! Wilson and the Peace

THE COSTS OF WAR • 10 million soldiers died in battle • No one knows exactly how many civilians died of disease, starvation, or other war related causes. • Some historians believe as many civilians died as soldiers (10 million). • 20 million wounded • Soldiers were blinded, lost limbs, suffered permanent lung damage from poison gas, or experienced psychological problems. • Much of eastern France lay in ruins (Western Front).

THE SPANISH FLU • 1918 – Flu epidemic spread. (SPANISH FLU) 20 million people die. • Epidemic: the rapid spread of a contagious disease among large numbers of people.

WILSON’S PLAN FOR PEACE • Wilson outlined his peace plan into the Fourteen Points to prevent another World War from occurring. • There were three (3) main ideas that the 14 Points represented. • The causes of the war • Territorial issues • Creation of an international peacekeeping body • What were some of his points? 1. End to Alliances 2. Freedom of the seas 3. Limit on Arms (weapons) 4. Self-determination: the right of national groups to their territory and forms of government.

WILSON’S MOST IMPORTANT POINT • 14 th Point: To create a League of Nations between nations. • Its job would be to protect the independence of all countries –LARGE or small • What cause of war (MANIA) does this point focus on? • Wilson persuaded the Allied Powers to accept his plan for peace, HOWEVER, the plan ran into trouble.

THE PEACE TREATY • Key issues were discussed by the Big Four … • Who were the BIG FOUR? 1. 2. 3. 4. Woodrow Wilson – USA David Lloyd George – Great Britain George Clemenceau – France Vittorio Orlando – Italy The Big Four met to discuss the terms of the treaty. I want to cripple Germany. Even though the war is over they are still a threat.

Was the U. S. part of the League of Nations? Why or why not?

Conflicting Goals WILSON • Wanted a “peace without victory. ” This meant that he opposed punishing the defeated countries. • He hoped to build good relations between countries in order to prevent future wars. • What do you think about Wilson’s “peace without victory”? -------------------------------------------------------------- THE OTHER ALLIES: • Wanted REVENGE • Insisted on reparations from Germany, or cash payments, to pay for all the losses from the war. • They did not want Germany to be able to build on its army again. • They wanted Germany to accept ALL responsibility for the war. • Wait!!!!!!! But what country started the war? Do you recall? ?

THE FINAL TREATY • Treaty of Versailles signed – June 1919 • Conditions of the treaty were HARSH!! • The treaty aimed at weakening Germany • Germany had to pay billions in reparations • The treaty limited the size of Germany’s military • Germany’s colonies were taken away • Germany took full blame for war ------------------------------------------------------ • The Treaty also included a few of Wilson’s ideas, such as the League of Nations.

THE BATTLE OVER THE TREATY IN THE U. S. • Most Americans favored the treaty • Isolationists: wanted the U. S. to stay out of world affairs. They opposed the treaty. • Isolationists thought the League of Nations would bring the U. S. into another war. • Henry Cabot Lodge----------U. S Senator • The debate continued, Congress did not sign the peace treaty until 1921. • The U. S. never became part of the “League of Nations”

POSTWAR TROUBLES • Labor Unrest • During the war, unions and businesses had cooperated to meet production goals. • Peacetime brought high unemployment, as soldiers came home to seek jobs. • With prices rising, unions’ demands for higher wages met stiff resistance from management. • Red Scare • Many Americans feared that Communists, or “Reds, ” were behind the labor unrest. • From 1919 into 1920 a “Red Scare, ” or fear of Communist revolution, gripped the nation.