Transcript 19-4.notes
19-4: Wilson Fights for Peace
"The world must be made
safe for democracy. Its
peace must be planted upon
the tested foundations of
political liberty. We have no
selfish ends to serve. We
desire no conquest, no
dominion. We seek no
indemnities for ourselves,
no compensation for the
sacrifices we shall freely
make.“
-Woodrow Wilson, April
1917 (Congress)
1918: Wilson delivers Fourteen Points
speech to congress
What were Wilson’s Points?
1.
Open treaties
2.
Freedom of the Seas
3.
Tariffs lowered to encourage free trade
4.
Arms reduction
5.
Consideration of the interests of people living in
colonies
6-13. Boundary changes and self-determination of
ethnic/national groups = let them choose their govt.
14.
The formation of the League of Nations
1919: Treaty of Versailles is signed
15. What terms of the treaty specifically
affected Germany?
•
•
•
•
War guilt clause
33 billion in reparations
Return of Alsace-Lorraine to France
Demilitarization
What were the weaknesses of the treaty?
• Humiliated Germany
• Reparations are too high for Germany to
pay off
• Set Germans against the treaty
• Stripped Germany of its colonies (needed
to pay off debt)
• Ignored the sacrifices and desires of
Russia and ignored the claims of
colonized peoples for self-determination
1920: Senate rejects the Treaty of Versailles
17. Why did Henry Cabot Lodge object to
the treaty?
• Lodge was suspicious of the provision for
joint action against aggression.
• - He wanted the treaty to declare the right
of the U.S. Congress to declare war
1921: Senate again rejects Treaty
of Versailles
18. How did the Wilson help bring about the
Senate’s rejection of the treaty?
• Wilson chose an American delegation that
failed to include enough Republicans and
Senators refused to compromise with
Lodge and others who opposed it.
1921: U.S. signs separate treaty with
Germany
19. What circumstances at this time would
eventually lead many Germans to support Adolf
Hitler?
• Misunderstandings about the reasons for
Germany’s loss of the war and the harshness
of the Treaty of Versailles contributed to
desperate economic conditions in Germany. –
The German people will be looking for a leader
with new ideas who will bring pride back to their
nation.