Global PeacemakerGlobal PeacemakerParis Peace ConferenceParis Peace Conference

• President Wilson decided to head the President Wilson decided to head the U.S. delegation and included only one U.S. delegation and included only one Republican to this group. Republican to this group. Important note: Important note: Republicans controlled the Senate and Republicans controlled the Senate and would have the final say on any treaty would have the final say on any treaty signed by the U.S.signed by the U.S.

• Wilson stressed that the U.S. was not Wilson stressed that the U.S. was not interested in any spoils of war. He was interested in any spoils of war. He was more concerned with establishing a more concerned with establishing a permanent agency that could deal with permanent agency that could deal with future problems.future problems.

Wilson CompromisesWilson Compromises• Other leaders did not share Wilson’s attitude. Other leaders did not share Wilson’s attitude.

They wanted to make Germany and the rest They wanted to make Germany and the rest of the Central Powers pay for their part in the of the Central Powers pay for their part in the war.war.

• Other leaders making up the Big Four were Other leaders making up the Big Four were David Lloyd George of Britain, Georges David Lloyd George of Britain, Georges Clemenceau of France and Vittorio Orlando of Clemenceau of France and Vittorio Orlando of Italy.Italy.

• Russia was absent from the conference. They Russia was absent from the conference. They were involved in a civil war and no one knew were involved in a civil war and no one knew what would happen there or what the effects what would happen there or what the effects of a Bolshevik victory might be.of a Bolshevik victory might be.

• Wilson was forced to compromise from the Wilson was forced to compromise from the start.start.

League of NationsLeague of Nations• President Wilson introduced his plan for President Wilson introduced his plan for

the League of Nations in Paris and then the League of Nations in Paris and then came back to the U.S., hoping to came back to the U.S., hoping to convince Congress to accept the plan.convince Congress to accept the plan.

• Article 10 of his plan said that an attack Article 10 of his plan said that an attack on one member was an attack on all on one member was an attack on all and required the response of all.and required the response of all.

• Many senators felt like this could Many senators felt like this could potentially drag the U.S. into an potentially drag the U.S. into an unpopular foreign war.unpopular foreign war.

The Peace TreatyThe Peace Treaty

• President Wilson’s influence at the President Wilson’s influence at the conference was weakened when conference was weakened when leaders learned that the U.S. leaders learned that the U.S. opposed the League of Nations.opposed the League of Nations.

• France used this weakened position France used this weakened position of Wilson to demand harsh penalties of Wilson to demand harsh penalties of Germany.of Germany.

Redrawing the Map of Redrawing the Map of EuropeEurope

• The peace conference created nine The peace conference created nine new countries out of the territory new countries out of the territory that was once Russia, Germany and that was once Russia, Germany and Austria-Hungary.Austria-Hungary.

• Leaders tried to recognize different Leaders tried to recognize different ethnic groups but it was impossible ethnic groups but it was impossible not to have new ethnic minorities in not to have new ethnic minorities in many countries.many countries.

War Guilt and War Guilt and ReparationsReparations

• The French in particular wanted to The French in particular wanted to punish Germany.punish Germany.

• They demanded that Germany admit They demanded that Germany admit guilt for the war and pay guilt for the war and pay reparationsreparations (payment for economic injury during (payment for economic injury during the war) amounting to $33 billion.the war) amounting to $33 billion.

• Wilson objected to this correctly Wilson objected to this correctly believing that Germany would be believing that Germany would be crippled and humiliated.crippled and humiliated.

Signing the TreatySigning the Treaty

• Although Germany objected to the Although Germany objected to the treaty, in reality they had no choice.treaty, in reality they had no choice.

• The Versailles Treaty was signed on The Versailles Treaty was signed on June 28, 1919.June 28, 1919.

• Ironically, the German Empire had Ironically, the German Empire had been founded in the same hall at been founded in the same hall at Versailles where Germany was now Versailles where Germany was now humiliated in front of the world.humiliated in front of the world.

The German Empire was founded after Prussia defeated France in the Franco-Prussian War. All of the independent

German states joined Prussia forming the modern nation of

Germany.

Reaction at HomeReaction at Home• In the U.S., various senators objected In the U.S., various senators objected

to the treaty. to the treaty.

• Some did not like being committed to Some did not like being committed to the League of Nations and could not the League of Nations and could not be persuaded. They were called the be persuaded. They were called the “irreconcilables.”“irreconcilables.”

• Others, called “reservationists”, Others, called “reservationists”, wanted revisions. No agreement wanted revisions. No agreement could be reached on this point.could be reached on this point.

Wilson Tours the CountryWilson Tours the Country• Wilson decided to put this issue Wilson decided to put this issue

before the American people. before the American people. • After 36 speeches in 23 days, he After 36 speeches in 23 days, he

suffered a stroke that paralyzed one suffered a stroke that paralyzed one side of his body.side of his body.

• He served out the rest of his term He served out the rest of his term isolated from others.isolated from others.

• The treaty failed to pass the Senate The treaty failed to pass the Senate three times much to the dismay of three times much to the dismay of the American people.the American people.

Formal End to HostilitiesFormal End to Hostilities

• Eventually, once a new president was Eventually, once a new president was in office, Warren Harding, Congress in office, Warren Harding, Congress ratified separate peace treaties with ratified separate peace treaties with Germany, Austria and Hungary.Germany, Austria and Hungary.

Postwar AdjustmentsPostwar Adjustments• The war had given a big boost to American The war had given a big boost to American

business, especially when compared to business, especially when compared to European countries that had lost so much European countries that had lost so much during the war.during the war.

• The U.S. had its own problems adjusting The U.S. had its own problems adjusting the economy to a peacetime economy.the economy to a peacetime economy.

• Cancelled defense contracts and men Cancelled defense contracts and men returning from military service caused returning from military service caused shakeups.shakeups.

• Women and African-Americans, both of Women and African-Americans, both of whom had enjoyed higher status during whom had enjoyed higher status during the war, were relegated to their status the war, were relegated to their status before the war. “Thanks but no thanks.”before the war. “Thanks but no thanks.”

Postwar GloomPostwar Gloom

• ““We all started out with high We all started out with high ideals….After being right up here ideals….After being right up here almost at the front line….I cannot almost at the front line….I cannot understand what it is all about or understand what it is all about or what has been accomplished by all what has been accomplished by all this waste of youth.”this waste of youth.”– Alice Lord O’BrianAlice Lord O’Brian