Treaty Of Versailles Perception Vs Reality

Saunak Shah

Mr. Nguyen

World History, Gr. 10

Due Date: 2/3/14

Perception vs. Reality

Anthony J D’Angelo once said, “Reality doesn’t bite, rather our perception of reality bites.” D’Angelo is saying that it isn’t the truth that affects us, it is the way we look at, perceive, and take in truth that changes how what we think about it. When the Treaty of Versailles was signed and presented there was multiple reactions from the German people, the way they perceived the Treaty is what led to their reactions. While both perception and reality played an important role in the making of the Treaty of Versailles and the reaction to it, it was the perception of reality and how this changed how people thought that played a far more important role in the fail of the treaty.

On June 28th, 1919 the Treaty of Versailles was signed by leaders of countries from all over the world. While the treaty was being drafted there were many different views, mainly from the France, Britain, and the US and after it was signed Germany and its citizens had many reactions based on what they were supposed to comply with. For the Big 3, Germany had lost the war. They all believed that Germany should have to pay, but all of them had different ideas about how and what Germany should give back. Woodrow Wilson wanted to help Germany rebuild and didn’t want to be very harsh. He came to the Paris Peace conference with his 14 points. The things he thought would help keep the world a peaceful place and prevent future wars. Among the 14 some of the main things were: countries should reduce their armed forces and weapons, and one of...

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...ame together it was just a matter of time before the Treaty truly failed because of all the perceptions that the Big 3 wanted to make a reality without thinking about the long term. The perceptions made a reality by the Big 3 and the change in that for the Germans ultimate led to the fail of the Treaty of Versailles.

Reality and perception both played a crucial role in the making of the Treaty of Versailles and how people reacted to it, but it was the way that perceptions were made a reality and how this made people change their thinking that led to the fail of the Treaty. Perception played an important role in the way reality was viewed in the Treaty of Versailles. It is the way that you perceive reality that is more important and effective than just reality alone. Anthony J D’Angelo once said, “Reality doesn’t bite, rather our perception of reality bites.”