PRES. WILSON &

THE PEACE TREATY

Treaty of Versailles

Ch 16.3(.4 is not on test)#23

Events Timeline – Post War

Jan 8,1918 – Wilson presents Congress with his plan for peace (Fourteen Points)

Nov 3, 1918 – Republicans win congressional elections in U.S. - Wilson loses credibility with Europe's Leaders

The Kaiser abdicates Throne / Republic Formed

Nov 11, 1918- Armistice Day (veteran’s day)- GR. Signs in part because of Wilson’s 14 pts.

Dec. 12, 1918 – Wilson arrives in Paris as a Hero

January 1919Paris Peace Conference begins

at the Palace of Versailles

Lawrence of Arabia and representatives from over 30 nations attended

Lawrence of Arabia and representatives from over 30 nations attended

Pres. Wilson Star of the Show Greeted by

Europeans as a Savior

GR. Signed Armistice in part because of 14 pts

Creel had 60 million leaflets dropped from planes over GR.

Wilson’s 14 Points Freedom of Ocean Travel No more Secret Alliances Arms Reductions Equality of Trade Barriers “Free Trade” Self Determination for Poland

“League of Nations” – 14th Pt.

- mediating body- rep. from every nation

- provide security for each country

Four Countries Emerge as the Most Powerful at the

Conf. - 30 countries Attended

The “Big Four”1) France2) Britain3) Italy4) United States

They shaped the final agreement

Germany & Russia were not allowed to attend

Bolshevik Revolution in Russia

-after Czar Abdicated Lenin had to get

Russia out of the war so he could concentrate on problems at Home…

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany, giving them much territory, pop., resources

Civil War, 1917-1920

“Reds” versus “Whites”

Complete breakdown of Russian economy and society

Wilson wants to remake the World in a way that War will be a thing of the

Past

Roadblocks Appear

European leaders

wish to punish & humiliate Germany for starting the War

U.S. overall role inwar was questioned

French turned the railcar where documents of German surrender

were signed into a museum- embarrass Germany

Wilson’s Power Diminishes

Most of the 14 pts were shot down by Allies Gives up on the rest to save the 14th pt.

- League of Nations June 28, 1919 – Treaty is Signed

- by Germany Too – Why did they Sign? July, 1919 – Wilson heads back to U.S. to

convince our

Senate to Ratify

Treaty of Versailles

June 1919 Alsace & Lorraine (industrial region)

would return to Fr. New Countries Created –CZ/Yugo/Poland GR - Stripped of Overseas Colonies GR – Forced to accept full responsibility

for starting the War (pay millions in Reparations)

“Blank Check”

League of Nations was created

German Territorial Losses: 1919-1921

Opposition in America1) Irreconcilable

s Progressive Republicans Wanted to focus

attention on problems at home instead of Europe

2) Reservationists

Article 10 of Treaty Could put U.S. into

war to preserve another nations independence

Who should declare war?-Congress or League

Wilson takes his case directly to Am.

people Whistle-stop cross country train tour He is wore down and exhausted Sept. 25, 1919 – Suffers a stroke

-incapacitated Oct. 1919 – Senate Rejects the Treaty**U.S. never signs the treaty ending

WWI**The U.S. will NOT Join the League of

NationsIsolationism v Interventionism

Nov. 1920 – Harding(R) elected Pres. Feb. 3, 1924 – Wilson Dies / Broken &

Defeated