The Treaty of Versailles was the official treaty that put an end to the First World War. When the armistice was called and the Peace conference began, the Allied nations were looking to gain land and be compensated by Germany for the war. President Woodrow Wilson went in with fourteen points plan that called for more forgiveness of the Germans and laws to be enacted that would help maintain World Peace. This would not come to fruition due to lack of support from the allied Nations of Britain and France. The Treaty of Versailles was very different than the fourteen points plan, Wilson had some limited success with some ideas, but in the end the treaty was not ratified in the United States due to party separation.
President Wilsons goals
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going into the Paris Peace Conference were to end the hostilities and establish plan for long term peace. In January, 1918 Wilson announced his Fourteen points plan “his blueprint for a new democratic world order” (p.731). His first five points were focused on the diplomatic issues that had plagued Europe in the years leading up to the war. The remaining nine were to be set up to help the territorial issues that would arise after the armistice and end of the war. His first point was one of the most important points made since it addressed one of the reasons that the war was started. It called for the end of all secret treaties between nations. When Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia after the Archduke was assassinated, due to secret treaties major powers such as Germany, France, and Great Britain were all obligated to declare war. Going into the Peace Conference Wilson was confident that his plan of forgiveness and little land concession would be accepted. Wilson was sorely mistaken, the British and the French wanted to gain land and money from the armistice. They made it clear that the full blame of the entire war would be levied against Germany. The central powers would also be required to pay reparations and be forced to concede much of their land to the Allies. When Wilson returned to the United States and announced the terms of the Treaty, there was very little resemblance to his Fourteen Point plan that he originally wanted to be in place. The Treaty of Versailles was not Wilson’s fourteen point plan but he did have success in getting some of his points included.
Wilson’s fourth point was the reduction of armaments to the lowest point before safety was affected. The Treaty of Versailles used this in a modified version to restrict the German military. The Treaty stated that Germany could maintain a standing army of no more than one hundred thousand men. The German government could no longer draft citizens into the military and was no longer able to have an Air Force. The German navy could no longer operate with any submarines and could only use mid-size ships for defense. Lastly the Rhineland became a demilitarized zone where the French were able to station troops to prevent Germany from attacking France. Wilsons success in lowering armament only extended to Germany and not any other nation. The lowering of armaments in Germany was a minor success in relation his original point. Chief among Wilsons successes with the Treaty of Versailles was the creation of the League of Nations. The League of Nations was tasked with maintaining peace among nations and preventing the outbreak of another war. The way that the League of Nations would prevent war was through arbitration. Two conflicting Nations were required to submit to an investigation and then arbitration before any military action could occur. I would attribute Wilson’s success to Britain and France having similar thoughts about post war …show more content…
rehabilitation with the League of Nations. At the Peace conference President Wilson suffered failures when some of his points were disregarded in favor of more hostile strategies. Wilson’s fifth point was for the just settlement of colonial claims and the right for colonies to govern themselves. His idea was twisted and used as a way to force German land concessions. The French were awarded the Alsace Loraine region which they had lost in 1871, but also acquired the rich mineral deposits of the Saar Basin region. Belgium acquired the cities of Eupen and Malmedy and Poland also expanded it border and acquired the city of Danzig. Besides land concessions the former Country of Austria-Hungary was broken up into the separate states of Austria, Hungary, Yugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia, with land given to Poland, Italy, and Romania. By the end of the Peace Conference President Wilson had seen little success. This was mainly due to the heavy opposition of France and Britain who wanted to expand their empires and be compensated for their involvement in the war. After the Treaty of Versailles was completed President Wilson returned to the United States and faced opposition to the treaty by Republican Party.
When the President first arrived back in the United States the American public supported the treaty. However when the President submitted the treaty to the Senate in July 1919, there was mounting criticism against the treaty. Most of the criticism towards the treaty was from the senate which at the time the republicans held the majority of seats. At the center of the Senates opposition was Republican Senator Henry Cabot Lodge of Massachusetts. Lodge was not only fueled by his dislike for the treaty but he also had a personal rivalry with President Wilson. Lodge is quoted of saying “I never thought I could hate a man as much as I hate Wilson” (p.734). Lodge insisted that if the United States were to be a member of the League of Nations, we would be forced into providing military assistance on foreign soil. He lobbied that being a member of the Leagues of Nations would be a threat to the nations policy of independence in foreign relations. Lodge was also able to use his position as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to preach his concerns of ratification. He was able to place “reservations” and amendments to the treaty that would require House and Senate approval before engaging in any league activity. It became clear that the treaty would be unable to pass without the addition of the Republicans
“Lodge amendments”. Democratic Senators that supported the Treaty tried to get Wilson to accept the Republicans terms. Wilson believed that the Lodge reservations changed the treaty to the core and would not accept the amendments. In private he cursed Lodge saying “Lodge reservations?”… “Never! I’ll never consent to adopt any policy with which that impossible name is so prominently identified.” (p. 735) In March 1920 the Treaty of Versailles came before the Senate without the “Lodge reservations and was six votes short of a two-thirds passage. However, Presidents Wilsons work had not been in vain in 1920 for his role in the creation of the League of Nations he received the Nobel Peace Prize. I think that effect of U.S. nonparticipation in the Treaty of Versailles had little impact on the United States Foreign relations, but hindered the ability of the League of Nations. The United States still participated in international politics after the war. The 1928 Kellogg-Briad Pact was put into place to help appease Americans that were disappointed in not being a member of the League of Nations. The Pact was thought of by Secretary of State Frank B. Kellogg and French Foreign Minister Aristide Briand. The non-aggression pact outlawed the use of war as a national policy. The Kellogg-Briad act was eventually signed by nearly all the members of the League of Nations. The League of Nations lost a critical ally when the United States did not ratify the Treaty of Versailles. The League of Nations became so focused on preventing war when Adolf Hitler came to power they began to unknowingly enable war. Adolf Hitler began to rearm and take back confiscated territory the Leagues strategy was appease Hitler and hope that he would stop at the old German borders. This plan didn’t work in the end the world went to war a second time. In 1946 the League of Nations was disbanded in favor of the stronger United Nations, with which the United States was a key member. The United Nations is still active today and operates across the globe with the goal of maintain peace.
Many of his points were carried out in the Treaty of Versailles, although not all of them were successful or followed completely. Wilson's fourth point in his plan was the reduction of national armaments. He stated that there should be "adequate guarantees given and taken that national armaments [would] be reduced to the lowest point consistent with domestic safety." In the Treaty of Versailles, it was stated that the German army was to be limited to 100,000 and that Germany was not allowed to draft its citizens or to have an air force. Also, Germany was no longer allowed to operate submarines because of the unrestricted submarine warfare that they had displayed during the war, and their naval ships were limited in size and in the amount that they were permitted to own.
The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, marks the day that WWI descended into armistice. However, the involved countries reached an agreement as to the events following the war on the 28th of June, 1919. The famous Treaty of Versailles was known for its role in ending war. But it was not known for being a double-edged sword, as the ending of war came with the consequence of causing future war. The Treaty consisted of uncontested biases due to Germany's unconditional surrender. The Allies held a gun to Germany's head, with their trigger finger tense. Each article of the Versailles Treaty only made Germany more restless, until 1933 when Hitler produced his own gun and pointed it at the Allies. The Treaty had a series of unproportional effects upon Germany and its people. It caused a rift between the two sides because of the alliances that it formed, brewing tension. The punishments enforced upon Germany were unrealistically huge and it increased the wish among the Germans for the nullification of the Treaty. Finally, the accumulated hatred amongst the people gave birth to potential for a revolution. The Treaty of Versailles is, therefore, an indirect cause to World War II, because of the alliances it caused, the punishments it enforced, and the hatred it developed.
Following World War I, President Woodrow Wilson became the mastermind for the creation of an international organization (Dudley 72). Eventually he was successful in the creation of the League of Nations and fighting for it to become a part of the Treaty of Versailles (Dudley 72). Although the League became a point in the Treaty of Versailles, the United States still had to ratify the Treaty to become a part of the League themselves (Dudley 76). Americans became split about whether the United States should have a place in the League or not, and the U.S. Senate had a decision to make (Dudley 76). On one side of the argument was a Democratic senator of California, James D. Phelan (Dudley 74). Mr. Phelan believed that the United States should join the League of Nations because it is the duty of the U.S. to uphold our ideals and support Democracy (Dudley 76). However, on the opposing side of this argument was people like Lawrence Sherman, a Republican senator from Illinois (Dudley 76). Mr. Sherman felt that the United States should not join the League of Nations because that would go against the policies of isolationism he felt the U.S. should follow, and he believed that the League of Nations would bring America too much into the conflicts of Europe (Dudley 76).
World War I, or the Great War, lasted from 1914 to 1918. In harsh battles between some of the world’s strongest economic powers, millions of people were killed and wounded. Woodrow Wilson was the President of the United States during these years, and he yearned for peace. Towards the end of the conflict, Wilson delivered a speech called “Fourteen Points” on January 8, 1918. His goal in doing so was to create some stability in a time of crisis. Even though the leaders of some countries did not jump on board right away, they eventually agreed to signing the Treaty of Versailles, officially ending the war. Through emphasizing peace, security, and freedom, President Woodrow Wilson’s “Fourteen Points” paid off overall, ultimately revealing that
In 1919 Woodrow Wilson wrote a statement to Henry Cabot Lodge the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in order to convince him to be in favor of the League of Nations. Woodrow Wilson believed, that the League of Nations was the best way for achieving an equitable peace for all the nations in the world. He said, that the United States should not interfere in any case, where one nation has their own restriction. In addition, Wilson mentioned that the United States is not going to be involved with immigration, tariff or naturalization of other nations, because each country have their own rights to deal with those question. Moreover, Wilson established that the United States will have to agree to “respect and persevere as against
Woodrow Wilson, our 23rd president, became involved in a war that he did not want any part of. Wilson wanted to remain neutral and have peace as in his first term of office. During World War I Wilson’s roles in the war became well known in all countries. Wilson wanted peace more than anything else. In seeking for peace Wilson asked Congress for the U.S. to enter World War I. which may not sound like a peace strategy but Wilson felt it was the only way to stop Germany and gain peace. Wilson wrote his speech for world peace, Fourteen Points, that he was probably most famous for. He attended and played an integral part in The Treaty of Versailles. He was the founder of the League of Nations, which he talked about in his Fourteen Points speech. .
There were four main ideas present about the treaty at the time: irreconcilables, reservationists both strong and mild, and those who accepted the treaty as is, like Wilson. The first group, the irreconcilables, consisted mainly of conservative and isolationist Republicans. They opposed the treaty mainly because of proposed membership in the League of Nations. The US Constitution gives no explicit power to the federal government to enter into an empowered international organization, since such an action without amendment to the Constitution would either give away powers of the federal government that are in its constitutional purview, thus sacrificing national sovereignty illegally, or would allow such international organization powers in the US not claimed by the federal government, an act unconstitutional under the tenth amendment, which states that all powers not enumerated to the federal government are possessed by the people or their state governments in such fashion as that state's citizens in convention deem appropriate. Since states are constitutionally blocked from entering agreements with foreign nations, joining the league would require a federal constitutional amendment. Other than constitutional arguments, they also thought joining the League was bad policy, as it would permanently entangle the US in the affairs of other nations, as well as allow some foreign oversight over domestic affairs. This sentiment is expressed in a cartoon from the era, which shows the Senate, with the Constitution in hand, halting the marriage between Uncle Sam and a woman labeled "foreign entanglements". (Document E)
middle of paper ... ... The Treaty of Versailles, initially created to keep peace in Europe and ensure that another war like World War I wouldn’t happen again, had in fact, backfired and spiraled the world down into a deeper, bloodier battle. The treaty discriminated strongly against Germany, with the loss of territories, military restrictions, economic reparations, and the War Guilt Clause. It caused humiliation and anger within Germany, and led to Hitler and the Nazi Party coming to power.
The Treaty of Versailles did not just end World War I, but it also changed the world. From it changing every countries view on Germany, to changing Germany itself. It contained many conditions, which led to the countless numbers of results. This treaty created a completely different outlook on the world.
... the actual Fourteen Points as proposed. Prior to reading the points, he made mention of that there were “no confusion between the Allied powers, no uncertainty of principle and no vagueness of detail”. He further stated that “only failure to make definite statement of the objects of the war lies with Germany and her allies”. Wilson’s “Fourteen Points” yielded minimal success as it regards to post World War peace and many of the points failed because they were severely deficient in detail and succinct. The last point that spoke about the “League of Nations” was accepted. In addition the points were based exclusively on US ideals without any input from the other countries that were affected.
World War I was ultimately ended in 1918 after the Treaty of Versailles was signed. Peace settlements were signed on June 28, 1918 at the Hall of Mirror in Versailles, Paris. The Treaty was an agreement among the United States, Great Britain, and France. Woodrow Wilson, George Clemenceau, and David Lloyd, who represented the "Big Three" countries, collaborated in negotiating the Treaty. The Treaty of Versailles was designed to weaken Germany and give Germany full blame for causing the war. The Treaty implemented massive reparations to Germany which would obliterate Germany's economy, notwithstanding the millions of dead allied soldiers. The settlement strictly limited the German's military. Germans were additionally forced to depart from their homes in Russia, Poland, and Alsace-Lorraine and return to Germany or Austria. Furthermore Germany had to give back any land belonging to other countries. With no alternative, Germany signed the peace settlements. The Treaty of Versailles was undoubtedly justified, Germany was positively the main instigator of the war and its excessive brutality of fighting provoked the war more particularly. Thus, making the amends to Germany was rational because of all the destruction Germany had triggered.
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the factors that led to the inevitability of World War Two. The Treaty of Versailles was a peace treaty that occurred as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that was held after Germany was defeated in World War One. The Treaty was put into action and required that Germany should accept responsibility for the war; of course Germany was humiliated by this. They were required to pay colossal war reparation payments. This was one of the main reasons the treaty had a severe impact on Germany; it crippled the German economy and critically reduced the living standards of the people. This made it virtually impossible for the German economy to function productively. The effects that the treaty had on Germany directly led to the rise of Hitler who he capitalised on German resentment at their treatment. He provided a focus for the German people and their desire to take back what they once had, and to restore their pride once again becoming a glorious nation.
The Treaty of Versailles was a treaty created at the end of World War I, in hopes of establishing peace among nations. Although it sought after harmony, the United States’ Senate refused to ratify the treaty due to the distasteful idea of the United States’ involvement in the League of Nations, and Woodrow Wilson’s unwillingness to compromise with Henry Cabot Lodge’s revisions of The Treaty of Versailles.
I do agree with Wilsons 14 Points, to some extent. Some of the points are strong and a necessity, but others are unrealistic and naïve. Points nine through thirteen illustrated Wilson’s approval for self-determination. These points granted many ethnic groups their own countries and supported national sovereignty (1). Point number four exhibited Wilson’s inexperience as he called for countries to shrink their militaries—something that would never work. It is in one’s human characteristics to defy rules, and some countries will just not follow it. In essence this is a powerful point, but in reality it will not function (3). To some extent, I do believe that Woodrow Wilson’s 14 Points can work. As some clearly will not work, others have potential. Ultimately, the real challenge to determine legitimacy will be the execution of the points.
Lenin’s decree states good points on how to achieve a brief period of peace and opens it up to negotiations on how to alter the decree to better serve the purpose of peace. The Fourteen Points directly say exactly what Wilson believes is needed and is included in his declaration of entering the war. The Fourteen Points possibly would have been the best plan for the world and did help with the good aspects of the conclusion of the war; however, every country in Europe had it’s own agenda that did not adhere to the wants of the foreign United States of America. In the course of human history, what is best for the people of the world is not what transpires and this is evidently seen in the ambitious ideals put forth by Vladimir Lenin and Woodrow