Transcript WWI Versialles

23.4 Questions
Before we look at the treaty.
The Last Years of the War
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2 reasons 1917 was bad for the allies?
1. Bad defeats on the Western front
2. Russian Revolution leads to Russian
withdrawal from the war.
Who entered the war in 1917?
- The United States
The Last Years of the War
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Why was the 2nd Battle of the Marne so
decisive?
- Germany lost its final big offensive.
- U.S. troops create steady stream of new
troops heading to Germany
The Last Years of the War
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If the Kaiser fled the country on Nov. 9,
1918, who surrendered for Germany?
- Frederich Ebert (Social Democrat)
formed a new government and
surrendered.
Who challenged the new government
under the German Social Democrats?
- German Communist Party
- GSD and army crush communists
How the Map
Changes
Let’s take a look
Europe before WW I
Europe in 1922
League of Nations Mandates
(Middle East)
The Failure of
Versailles
What led to the failure of
Woodrow Wilson’s vision?
The 14 Points
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Delivered to Congress on January 8th,
1918.
This was Woodrow Wilson’s vision for a
new world order.
To End War (Points 1 - 5)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
No secret treaties
Freedom of the seas
Open markets (no tariffs)
Arms reduction (only as needed for
protection)
Colonial policies good for both colonizer
and colony
Points 6 - 13
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Self-Determination - Wilson believed
national groups on borders should decide
which country they would like to join.
The 14th Point - The League
of Nations
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The League of Nations would govern
world affairs.
If a nation was attacked unfairly all nations
should come to the aid of the attacked.
Which person would exploit the weakness
of the League of Nations?
Adolf Hitler
The Big Four at Versailles
Steven Felzenberg
“In October 1918, the German government
informed Wilson on its willingness to accept an
armistice based on the 14 points. In granting the
armistice and pressing the Allied powers to do
the same, the American Prime Minister allowed
Germany to believe that he had the power to
commit not only the United States but also the
Allies to the just peace he had promised. On this,
he would fail to deliver.”
What were some of the big
mistakes at Versailles
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German War Guilt Clause
Reparations - Germany was forced to pay $56
billion dollars and complete responsibility for the
war.
German Sudetenland given to Czechoslovakia.
Russian exclusion and loss of territory
Failure in Asia
1) Japan snubbed with territory
Wilson’s failure to consider the Senate’s role in
accepting the Treaty.
Tools Wilson could have used
to press Allies for agreement
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U.S. entrance in the war contingent on
acceptance of the 14 points
Europe’s food supply heavily dependent
on the U.S.
The loans granted to the Allies by the U.S.
Use his popularity in Europe through the
press - Allowed press proceedings of
Versailles negotiations to be closed to the
press.
The Lodge Reservations
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“The United States is the world's best hope, but if you
fetter her in the interests and quarrels of other nations, if
you tangle her in the intrigues of Europe, you will destroy
her powerful good, and endanger her very existence.
Leave her to march freely through the centuries to come,
as in the years that have gone. Strong, generous, and
confident, she has nobly served mankind. Beware how
you trifle with your marvelous inheritance; this great land
of ordered liberty. For if we stumble and fall, freedom
and civilization everywhere will go down in ruin.”
Henry Cabot Lodge (Rep)
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In essence, Lodge did
not want to have the
United States bound
to enter another world
conflict.
Some historians feel if
Wilson compromised
with Lodge and the
moderates the Treaty
may have been
ratified by the Senate.
Wilson’s response to Lodge
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The treaty placed a “moral obligation” on
its signatories to give up some of their
sovereignty.
If Wilson allows Senate to add
“reservations” than other countries will do
the same.
When Democrats push him to compromise
Wilson exclaims, “Let Lodge
compromise!”
The Treaty is Rejected in the
United States Senate
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Wilson refused to accept the treaty with the
Lodge Reservations.
The Democrats have enough votes (minority by
2 votes) in the Senate to reject the Lodge
Reservations
The Democrats do not have enough support to
get the 2/3 vote needed to ratify the treaty.
The United States signs a separate peace treaty
with Germany in 1921.
Wilson’s Last Public Address
“I
have seen fools resist providence
before and I have seen their
destruction as will come upon
these again-utter destruction and
contempt. That we shall prevail is
as sure as God reigns.”
Although Failed Wilson
achieved..
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The conept of “human rights” is pushed in
the dialogue of U.S. foreign policy.
The term “Wilsonian” is applied to a
foreign policy based on negotiation.
The idea of liberty was picked up and
extended to other parts of the world. (Not
just an American ideal.)
Rankings?
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Where does Wilson rank on the
president’s list?