Week 5 - The Treaty of Versailles, 1919:

The Peace to End all Peace (?)

Reading Quiz 4 – Treaty of Versailles1. What international organization was established

by the Treaty of Versailles?2. Which 2 countries added to their empires by

adding the “mandates”?3. What were 2 territories taken from Germany?4. Who or what was the official cause of World War

I, according to the Treaty of Versailles?5. What was 1 of the 14 Points not achieved by the

Treaty of Versailles?

Our Big Question Today The year is 1919, and the Great War is

over – “The War to End all Wars!” In 1919, how will the Europeans prevent

another Great War?

Background There were in total 6 different problems facing the

Big 3 at the Paris Peace Conference: How to prevent Germany from attacking again How to protect Europe from communist Russia There were new governments in Germany/Austria Japan and Italy wanted their rewards for fighting in the

secret treaties Czechoslovakia, Poland and Yugoslovia were new

countries that needed help to get established The leaders of the victorious countries in WWI (Britain,

France, and the US) did not agree with each other about the future

A. Why Versailles?

A. Why Versailles?1. Versailles (France) was in the middle of

the 3 main European powers

A. Why Versailles? Versailles (France) was in the middle of

the 3 main European powers

A. Why Versailles? Versailles (France) was in the middle of

the 3 main European powers

A. Why Versailles?2. Germany signed an “armistice” (Time-

out) in France (in this train*)

A. Why Versailles?2. Germany signed an “armistice” (Time-

out) in France (in this train*)3. Versailles was where the treaty of the

last war in Europe was signed (the Franco-Prussian War, 1871)

B. The Big 3

Woodrow Wilson (US)

David Lloyd George (UK)

Georges Clemenceau (France)

B. How were the Big Three different? At the end of World War I (then called

“the Great War”), Germany was going to be punished. The question was, how much?

Who wanted to punish Germany the most? Who wanted to punish Germany the least?

B. How were the Big Three different?Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924)

US President (1912-1920) Former teacher, Head of

Princeton University Presbyterian, very

religious Progressive Movement First to suggest League of

Nations, collective security Nobel Peace Prize, 1919

Lloyd George (1863-1945)

British Prime Minister (1916-1922)

Had tried to reduce military spending before WWI (Arms Race)

Promised to make Germans pay at the end of the War

Leader of Liberal Party, 1926-31

B. How were the Big Three different?

Georges Clemenceau (1841-1929)

French Prime Minister (1906-1909, 1917-1920)

30 years old in Franco-Prussian War (‘71)

Wanted to weaken Germany forever, take back Alsace-Lorraine

Nicknamed “the Tiger”

B. How were the Big Three different?

A difference of opinions At the end of World War I (then called

“the Great War”), Germany was going to be punished. The question was how much

Who wanted to punish Germany the most? Who wanted to punish Germany the least?

A difference of opinionsA. “I think we should teach Germany a lesson. If

we weaken Germany, she won’t be able to attack again.”

B. “I think we should forgive Germany and try to make the world a safer place. The most important thing is that we prevent another Great War from happening.”

C. “I want Germany to pay for the damage she caused, but I don’t want to make the Germans angry. If there is another Great War, I want my country to stay out of it.”

Lloyd George’s Big Concern…

Lloyd George’s Big Concern… 1. Protecting British Empire2. Using Germany to protect Europe from

Russia3. Not allowing France to dominate

Europe

Clemenceau’s Big ConcernGeorges Clemenceau

“Mark well what I am telling you. In six months, in a year, ten years, when they like, as they like, the Germans will invade us again. We were attacked. We are victorious. We represent right, and might is ours. This might must be used in the service of the right” (1919)

Clemenceau’s Big ConcernGeorges Clemenceau

Franco-Prussian War, 1871

C. Terms of the Treaty

Blame Reparation Army Territory

C. Terms of the Treaty

C. Terms of the Treaty

D. Effects and Reactions Britain’s government gradually changed its

opinion to Germany, and allowed Germany to escape some of the consequences of the Treaty of Versailles in the 1920s

German people hated Britain and France for the treaty, and the German government that signed the treaty

The United States decided to stay out of all problems related to the treaty, and became increasingly isolated in the 1920s-30s

A. Why Versailles?

1918 1940

1940 (World War II)

Hitler forces France to surrender in 1940 in the same train that Germany had surrendered in at the end of World War I

Adolf Hitler

When did Germany finally make its final reparation payment?

3 years ago