Bell Ringer
Read the “Ram Treaty” and discuss your thoughts
with your partner!
The Legacy of World War I
World War I
Lesson Essential Question & Objectives
LEQ:
What were the political and social effects of World War I ?
Objectives:
1. Compare and Contrast the Treaty of Versailles and Woodrow Wilson’s Plans for Peace.
2. Analyze the social changes that occurred after the war.
One American’s Story“March 24, 1919 Entered N.Y. Harbor. Mayor Committee of Welcome came to meet us & band began to play “Home Sweet Home”. Crowd began to cheer. As we steamed up the Bay, we all crowded to one side of the boat, almost upsetting the boat...Passed the Statue of Liberty & Such whooping & Cheering one never heard.” -Bugler Wayne DeSilvey
William DeSilvey was a young soldier from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He served as a bugler in the 112th Infantry Division. He was wounded and gassed in an attack on November 11, 1918, the last day of the war. (He describes his return to America with other troops) !He eventually died from the effects of the gassing.
Woodrow Wilson’s Plan for Peace
Woodrow Wilson wanted to prevent another world war
Fourteen Points: President Woodrow Wilson’s goals for peace after World War I
January 1918: Ten months before the war ended
Read about him!
Radical new plan for peace told congress about his plan 10 months before the end of the war.
Fourteen Points Group Activity
EDSITE LESSON CONCEPT MAP
http://edsitement.neh.gov/sites/edsitement.neh.gov/files/worksheets/Wilsonianism04.pdf
Fourteen PointsSmaller Military Forces
End to Secret Treaties
Freedom of the Seas
Free Trade
Changes in National Boundaries
Independence to the people of Austria Hungary & Ottoman Empire
Fourteen Points
#14 was most important:
League of Nations: an organization set up after World War I to settle international conflicts
Acceptance of the 14 Points would bring “Peace without Victory”
Treaty of VersaillesBritain, France, & Italy did not share Wilson’s vision of “peace without victory”
Treaty of Versailles: the 1919 Treaty that ended World War I
Germany would pay: Forced to Accept Full Blame for the war Stripped of its colonies Military was limited to 100,000 soldiers $33 Billion in Reparations
Britain, France, and Italy wanted Germany to PAY heavily for the war!
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty also changed national boundaries:
Czechoslovakia
Austria
Hungary
Yugoslavia
Poland (independent)
Blue was Germany Border Before Red was Russia Green was Austria Hungary
Treaty of Versailles
Wilson managed to include the League of Nations in the Treaty
The American Senate rejected the treaty: Changes must be made
Wilson refused to compromise and the U.S. did not ratify the treaty
The League of Nations was formed without the United States
Primary Sources
Read “ An Appeal for Support for the League of Nations”
Answer the Questions with a partner
Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles failed to make Europe “Safe for Democracy”
Germany’s economic burden and resentment would grow
The Treaty planted the seed for World War II
Summarizing Question
How did Woodrow Wilson hope to achieve world peace?
Wilson’s plan called for smaller military forces, an end to secret treaties, freedom of the seas, free trade, changes in national boundaries, and the creation
of the league of nations
Summarizer
Treaty of Versailles Revision:
With your partner, discuss how you would have revised the treaty of
Versailles to try and avoid its negative effects. Be prepared to
present your discussion to the class.
