Ending the War

The Fourteen Points, The Treaty of Versailles and League of Nations

Final Stands Russia withdraws from war in 1917

Worn out by revolution, war, and out of supplies

Germany likes this because they can stop worrying about their Eastern Front and focus just on UK, France in the West

But US is mobilizing to help the UK and FRA

US help too much for Germans to stop, and an Armistice (truce) is signed 11/11/1918

Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points

US President gives a speech on what should change about foreign policies to stop another World War

Made the speech before the fighting was even over

Wilson’s plan was rather neutral compared to some of the other Ally’s plans for Germany

France for example wanted harsh penalties

Highlights of the Fourteen Points

No secret alliances

Free trade across seas during peace or war

Reducing of weapons for all nations

Self-Determination: Allowing colonies to be independent if they choose to be so

Form a organization of the world’s nations to protect one another from aggression

The Treaty of Versailles Did more harm than good

Based off of France wanting Germany to pay for what they had done (believed entire war was Germany’s fault)

Treaty made Germany look bad (Germans upset for having to take all the blame)

Only UK, USA, France, Italy, and Japan at conference to make the terms

Terms of the Treaty Germany and Austria Hungary had to take the blame

for the war (“War Guilt Clause”)

Germany to pay reparations ($33B then, that would be $385 Billion today)

They just finished paying in 2010 Germany must reduce the size of its military

Called disarmament U-Boats and troops reduced, no air force No troops allowed in the Rhineland (near France)

Germany gives up its colonies and conquered lands of France and Russia back

No more alliances between Germany and Austria-Hungary

League of Nations League created by the Treaty of Versailles

Made Wilson happy since he pushed for a group to stop war.

Purpose was to encourage world cooperation and peace

Germany was excluded from the League (this made them upset)

There was no army for the League (supposed to be a group effort)

US Congress would not sign the Treaty, so they did not join the League (wanted to stay isolated as possible)

Not having the US led to the League being a failure