•Wilson aimed to end war by creating a League of Nations based on his Fourteen Points- a document that he produced before the end of the war that he thought would lead to a lasting peace. • He wanted to ensure Germany was not destroyed- believing that a stronger Germany would be less likely to go to war in the future.

The Aims of the Big Three

At the peace conference at Versailles, there were three main figures; Georges Clemenceau, the Premier of France; David Lloyd George, the Prime Minister of Britain; and Woodrow Wilson, the President of the United States. Each had their own views about how Germany should be treated.

Add these views to the speech bubbles on this picture. (See what you can remember first and then use the next page for information)

Do you think they will be able to compromise?

Woodrow Wilson

Lloyd George

Clemenceau

WilsonLloyd George

Clemenceau

Wilson

•Wilson aimed to end war by creating a League of Nations based on his Fourteen Points- a document that he produced before the end of the war that he thought would lead to a lasting peace. • He wanted to ensure Germany was not destroyed- believing that a stronger Germany would be less likely to go to war in the future.

Clemenceau was seeking revenge and to punish Germany- in which he was in line with the French public.

He wanted to return Alsace-Lorraine to France- which they had lost to Germany in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71.

He also wanted the Rhineland to be independent: in order to provide a barrier between France and Germany.

He wasn’t keen on the League of Nations- he certainly didn’t believe in cooperation with Germany.

As France had sustained so much damage during the First World War, he wanted huge reparations from Germany to repair that damage.

He demanded that the German army be disbanded so that Germany would never be strong enough to attack France again.

Georges Clemenceau

Woodrow Wilson in a cartoon from 1919. The bowl of bubbles is marked “Idealism”- meaning an unrealistically hopeful view of a situation.

Source practice opportunity: What is the cartoonist’s message? (7 marks). *Remember, to get 7 marks in an exam, you need to a) show whether the cartoonist is being supportive or critical of the subject, b) to refer to the source content, c) to refer to your own knowledge about this issue. You can apply this question to any of the cartoon sources in this booklet.

“Clemenceau the Vampire”German newspaper, 1919. Germany is the figure on the bed.

Key Terms: self-determination- countries should be able to decide if they are independent or part of an empire for themselves; demilitarisation- removal/ banning of troops from a specified; disarmament- reduction or withdrawal of troops and weapons.

Key terms: reparations- compensation demanded in war time, usually from a victorious nation to a defeated one.

David Lloyd George

“Not bad, considering I was sitting next to Jesus Christ and Napoleon.” Lloyd George, when asked how he thought the Paris Peace Conference went. Jesus referred to Wilson, Napoleon (French emperor who made his name and empire through military conquest).

Lloyd George wanted a 'just' (fair) peace that would be tough enough to please the electors who wanted to 'make Germany pay', but would leave Germany strong enough to trade.

He had promised the British people to “squeeze the German lemon until the pips squeak”- but he was concerned that too much punishment would run the risk of Communist revolution in Germany like the one in Russia in 1917.

Lloyd George also wanted to ensure that the empire was protected and that the British remained as the country with the mightiest navy.

Woodrow Wilson is conducting the choir- what point is that making about him?

What do these guns in the back pockets symbolise? Do you think it is significant that Wilson cannot see them?

*note: the text says what the nations hope to get out of the peace talks.

Is it significant that the US do not have a gun and they are not getting anything out of the peace talks?

This is an American source. Do you think the cartoonist is being supportive or critical of the role of the US?

Task 3: Why did the victors not get everything they wanted?

The headings in this table are all reasons why the Big Three could not come to an agreement over the peace treaty. Explain why they made it so difficult to come to an arrangement.

Wartime commitments and secret treaties

The collapse of the Russian and Austro-Hungarian empires

The terms of the armistice. Public opinion

During WWI, to convince countries like Italy and Japan to join the war on the side of the Allies. Any peace agreements had to include reference to those commitments- e.g. Italy getting a share of the Ottoman Empire or German colonies and Japan’s claims on China.

Russia’s empire collapsed leaving lots of small national groups (Finland, the Baltic states, parts of Poland etc.) who were determined to rule themselves.In Austria-Hungary, the war ended the monarchy and gave a number of national groups (the Czechs and Slovaks) their independence.This was largely solved through their own choices- but it still led to tensions in discussion.

The armistice signed on 11th November 1918 had some harsh terms in it- the Germans had already accepted reparations, the loss of Alsace Lorraine and the demilitarisation of the Rhineland. Some of these terms were very harsh- but they had already been agreed.

The Italians were determined to gain territory to make them a power.The Americans did not really want to be involved in European affairs and didn’t like Wilson’s involvement.Lloyd George was promising the British one thing but wanting to do another.This meant that the leaders couldn’t decide what they wanted to do.

Explain why it was so difficult for the Big Three to reach an agreement at the Paris Peace Conference. (6 marks) Remember a six mark question needs two developed reasons.

Reason 1:

Development:

Reason 2:

Development:

Task 4: The Terms of the Treaty of VersaillesHighlight on the list of terms which are:

a. To punish Germany.b. To protect the interests of France.c. Contradict Wilson’s Fourteen Points.d. Support Wilson’s Fourteen Points.

The Terms of the Treaty of Versailles

Terms of the Treaty of VersaillesWar Guilt: Germany had to accept the blame for the war under Article 231 of the Treaty which stated ‘Germany accepts responsibility for causing all the loss and damage to which the Allied governments have been subjected as a consequence of the war imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany’.

Military Restrictions: Germany could have no air force. The army was limited to 100,000 men with no conscription and allowed no tanks. The navy was limited to 15,000 men and not allowed any submarines. The size and number of naval ships were also limited.

Reparations: Because Germany accepted blame, it meant the Allies could demand reparations. This was finally agreed to be £6600 million.

German territory: Germany lost all overseas colonies, and it lost Alsace Lorraine and the Saar coal region. They were not allowed to unite with Austria (Anschluss) and territory was taken from the west and north of Germany to form a new Poland (including access to the sea in the Polish Corridor). It lost the city of Danzig, which became a free city protected by the League of Nations.

The League of Nations: a League of Nations was set up, and the “Covenant” or rules became the first part of all peace treaties.

Wilson’s Fourteen Points1. No secret treaties.2. Freedom of the seas.3. Removal of economic barriers.4. Reduction of armaments.5. Settlement of all colonial claims.6. Germans to leave Russian territory.7. Germans to leave Belgium.8. Alsace-Lorraine returned to France.9. Italian frontiers adjusted to take into account the

nationality of the population.10. All people in the Austria-Hungarian Empire given self-

determination.11. Germans to leave Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, who

had their independence guaranteed.12. People of the Ottoman Empire given self-determination.13. Independent Polish state created with access to the sea.

Section 2 Learning Objectives

1. To be able to explain why different countries responded in different ways to the peace treaty.

Section 2 Success Criteria

a. Read and understood the textbook section (pages 14-19)b. Analyse and interpret sources for reactions.c. Be able to explain why other countries reacted as they did.d. Compare to the terms of the other peace treaties.e. Explain why people thought the treaties were justifiable and why others thought

they would only lead to further problems.

Task 1: Cartoons and other sources

Try to interpret these sources to show you what different countries thought of the Treaty of Versailles.

When analysing cartoons think 3 Cs and a J.

Context: What was happening at the time? Content: What is happening in the cartoon? Comment: What is the meaning of the cartoon? Judgement: Use your own knowledge to put it into context.

Source a: Cartoon from a German newspaper, July 1919 called ‘Clemenceau the Vampire’. (Clemenceau was French Prime Minister)

Write your analysis here.

Source b: John Maynard Keynes (a British economist)

The Treaty includes no provision for the economic rehabilitation of Europe- nothing to make the Central Powers into good neighbours, nothing to stabilise the new States of Europe, nothing to reclaim Russia, nor does it promote in any way a compact of economic solidarity or to adjust the systems of the Old World and the New... Reparation was their main excursion into the economic field, and they settled it from every point of view except that of the economic future of the states whose destiny they were handling.

Write your analysis of source 2 here.

Write your analysis here. (note, General Gough was an American, talking to Americans)

Source D Source D is a German cartoon from 1919 about the Treaty of Versailles. It shows Germany about to be guillotined. The other three figures are Wilson (left), Clemenceau (pulling the string) and Lloyd George.

Write your analysis here.

a) Why do you think the Treaty of Versailles provoked such strong reactions?

b) Was the Treaty of Versailles fair?

EXTENSION: When you have completed the work on this section, come back and look at these sources again. Can you add to your annotations?

General Hubert Gough, speech at a Union of Democratic Control (11 November 1920)

We hoped to establish justice, fair dealing between nations, and the honest keeping of promises; we thought to establish a good and lasting peace which would, of necessity, have been established on good will. The Peace Treaty has done nothing of the kind.

BRITAINNowhere near as much damage at home as France but economically weak- owed over £1 billion to the USA.Britain had expanded its powers in its Empire, and the British political system had changed- new taxes, new government ministries and powers were introduced to cope with the war and were never removed. This all led to new expectations from the public of the government- they felt Britain had to maintain its global status and empire, but the empire started thinking about how it could get independence.

FRANCEHad seen most of the fighting and needed substantial financial support to rebuild. Highest casualty percentage of all major participants in the war with over a million dead. Loss of 750,000 homes, roads, railways, factories and farmland. France was desperate to be safe from Germany and also to punish them for the damage done to France. The people wanted to return to normality as soon as possible. Clemenceau was under a lot of pressure from the French people to reach a settlement.

The USAThe USA had not entered the war until 1917 and had not lost nearly as many men. Financially, it had gained from the conflict. However, while President Wilson was keen on “making the world safe for democracy”, the US people and US government were not- they felt that had been fighting “someone else’s war”. This meant that they wanted to remain isolated. They believed that getting involved in the League of Nations was practically “signing a blank cheque”.

Key Terms: isolated- when a country refuses to enter into alliances, foreign economic commitments, international agreements, etc., and only want to look at their own interests. Blank cheque- a country can do what it wants and the other nation will support them.

GermanyThe Germans (who had believed right up until the last few days of the war that they were going to win) were shocked and unhappy at the loss of the war, but assumed that peace would be based on Wilson’s Fourteen Points. The Kaiser had abdicated and as he was to blame for the war, were expecting to be treated fairly.The first blow came when Germany weren’t allowed representatives at the Paris Peace Conference. The second was when the Treaty of Versailles was presented and the Germans could not negotiate at all- a diktat. The new German government had to sign it or war would break out. They were then blamed for their signing of that document- many claiming Germany was “stabbed in the back”. The Germans were stunned, resented reparations payments (which they were not capable of making anyway, especially as they had lost so much of their industrial land).

Key Terms: abdicated- when a monarch gives up their throne. Diktat- a harsh settlement, which is imposed on a defeated nation without consultation.

Was the treaty justified?YES: They were trying to make sure that the most terrible war in history (WWI) was not repeated and it was intending to restore stability to Europe after so much of it had been broken up.NO: It was a “peace of revenge”, the peacemakers were aware that it would lead to future problems (e.g. Lloyd George telling one of the officials “we shall have to do the same thing all over again in twenty-five years at three times the cost”).

Task 2: Reactions to the Peace Settlement

Imagine that you are a contemporary (meaning you were around at the time) of these countries at the time the treaty was set up.

Using the boxes below, either draw a cartoon or write a statement explaining how your country feels about the peace settlement. It should include reference to the impact of the war, political response and the public response. You can find the information on page 14-15.

Try to include as much detail as you can about the different views. Any little snippets of information that you can’t fit in, write underneath or nearby.

Britain France

The USA Germany

Questions:

a) Why did the German’s sign the Treaty of Versailles?

b) What is a diktat? Why did the German people refer to the Treaty as a diktat?

c) The Germans also referred to the Treaty as a ‘stab in the back’. Why?

d) Do you think that the Treaty would successfully achieve peace?

Task 3: The other Treaties

Complete the table below, thinking carefully about the issues raised.

Treaty and the countries involved

The terms Impact Were they as harsh/ less harsh/ harsher than the Treaty of Versailles?

The Treaty of St GermainSeptember 1919Signed by the Allies with Austria.

Agreed to pay reparations but the bank of Vienna collapsed in 1922 and it paid none.

Army allowed of 30,000 men. Austria-Hungary divided into

Austria and Hungary. Lost territory to make parts of new countries (e.g. Yugoslavia, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Poland all received land).

Still lots of national minorities in Austria creating problems.

Economic problems were casued by splitting up the empire- e.g. trade, building roads and railways.

These small states created were weak.

The Treaty of NeuillyNovember 1919Signed by the Allies with Bulgaria

£100 million in reparations. Army limited to 20,000 men. Lost some land to Yugoslavia

and Greece, but got some from Turkey.

Largely unchanged. Some resentment at loss of territory and some economic problems following reparations but nowhere near the same extent as Germany.

The Treaty of TrianonJune 1920Signed by the Allies with Hungary

Agreed to pay reparations but economy collapsed in the early 1920s and it paid nothing.

Army limited to no more than 35,000 men.

Lost a lot of territory to Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Romania.

3 million Hungarians were under foreign rule which they resented.

Changes in government in 1919 were brutal and led to a military dictatorship.

The Treaty of Sévres (August 1920), amended by the Treaty of Lausanne (July 1923) because the Turks were so annoyed by Sévres they overthrew the government and set up a new one.Both signed by the Allies and Turkey.

Sévres demanded reparations- Lausanne removed this demand.

Under Sévres they lost a lot of territory, and under Lausanne, they recovered some of it from Greece.

All foreign troops had to leave Turkey under Lausanne.

No limites were placed on Turkey’s armed forces and it kept control over important waterways.

The uprising after Sévres had been led by Mustapha Kemal (the Turkish general who defended Gallipoli during WWI) and the Allies preferred to sign a new treaty instead of fight him.

Task 4: Could these treaties be justified at the time?

Use your notes so far, plus the sources on the next page to explain whether the treaties were about:

a) Fairnessb) Revengec) Improving the stability of Europe

Put your evidence in the table below.

The treaties were all about Fairness

The treaties were all about Revenge

The treaties were all about improving the stability of Europe

Why did people at the time think that these treaties would lead to future conflict?

Sources

The Tiger: Curious, I seem to hear a child weeping.

Note: the child has 1940 class above them which would refer to him reaching adulthood in 1940 and therefore being able to join the armed forces. Remember also that “The Tiger” is Clemenceau’s nickname, and cannon fodder means expendable soldiers used to use up enemy fire in war.

It was a peace of revenge. It sowed a thousand seeds from which new wars might spring. It was as though the Devil had sat beside Clemenceau and whispered madness into the ear of Wilson and grinned across the table at Lloyd George.

A British historian in 1929.

This is not peace. It is an armistice for fifteen years.

The judgement of Marshall Foch on the Treaty of Versailles. Foch was the French commander-in chief of the Allies armies in the final year of the war.

November, 1937. CAPTION: “Nazi Hunting Exhibition”. Weimar is the name given to the German nation’s new government after WWI which falls to Hitler in 1933, Locarno is a pact signed in 1925 guaranteeing German borders undone by Hitler’s march into the Rhineland. The other spaces are marked “reserved”. The other text says “Great Britain and every country owe a debt of gratitude… for the encouragement given to sport by this exhibition”. British minister Lord Halifax had been to Germany and been impressed by the Nazi regime.