American History A

Mr. Bekemeyer

The Treaty of Versailles & Debate Over the League of Nations

(Unit VI, Segment 3 of 3)

[From History Alive! Pursuing American Ideals – Chapter 25 (Sections ALL)]

I. The End of World War I

A. The world was transformed by WWI:

1. 22 million soldiers & civilians had died; 20 million were wounded; 10 million

became refugees

2. Towns & farms along the ______& ______Fronts

were destroyed

3. The war cost an estimated $338 billion & massive funds were needed to rebuild

Europe

B. Wilson’s Fourteen Points

1. President ______believed that America ought to

take a lead in shaping the peace process

2. Near the end of the war, President Wilson developed his peace plan known as the

______:

a. Based on eliminating the reasons for WWI (militarism, imperialism)

b. Hoped to avoid all future war by creating an international forum to discuss &

arbitrateproblems

Examining Wilson’s Fourteen Points

Wilson’s Fourteen Points / Main Idea / Symbol / Was this part of the Treaty of Versailles?
  1. There shall be no private international understandings of any kind but diplomacy shall proceed in the public view

Wilson’s Fourteen Points / Main Idea / Symbol / Was this part of the Treaty of Versailles?
  1. Absolute freedom of the seas in peace and in war

  1. The removal of all economic barriers and the equality of trade among all nations

  1. Adequate guarantees that national armaments will be reduced to the lowest point consistent with domestic safety

  1. An impartial adjustment of all colonial claims, with respect to the native of the populations as well as the government whose title is to be determined

  1. A general association of nations must be formed to guarantees the political independence and territorial integrity to great and small states alike.

3. President Wilson’s Fourteen Points contained three main themes:

a. (Points 1-5) Create new rules that would eliminate the causes of WWI: No

more secret ______; Reduction of militaries; Freedom of the

seas; International control over colonies to end ______

b. (Points 6-13) Divide weak empires like Austria-Hungary & the Ottoman

Empire into new nations based on national

“______”

i. New nations should have their borders drawn with consideration to ethnic &

national identities

ii. New nations should be free to choose their own ______

c. (Point 14) To create a ______to settle all future international problems by compromise rather than by war

II. The Treaty of Versailles, 1919

A. Wilson traveled to the Paris Peace Conference in 1919 to help create the

______:

1. He hoped his Fourteen Points would become the framework for the peace treaty

2. But, Wilson quickly learned that European leaders did not share his vision for a

“peace without victory” & wanted Germany to be punished

3. During the peace process, Wilson had to ______some of his

Fourteen Points

B. The Treaty of Versailles, 1919

1. Delegates agreed to create a League of Nations that included:

a. An agreement that member nations would work together to stop future acts of

aggression

2. Other treaty provisions included:

a. Austria-Hungary was ______in two, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, &

Poland were formed

b. Germany had to accept the “______,” pay $33

billion in reparations, & lost all colonies

c. No mention of free trade; No end to imperialism, no reduction in militaries for

any of the Allies

3. On June 28, 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed by Germany & officially

______WWI

4. But, President Wilson could not ______the treaty because Article I of the

Constitution gives the ______the power to ratify all treaties; But,

many U.S. Senators did not like the treaty because of the "League"

III. The Debate Over U.S. Membership in the League of Nations

A. All the major ______signed the Treaty of Versailles

& joined the League of Nations

B. But, the ______was divided about what joining the League would

mean for the ______of the United States

C. Many members of the Senate attacked the League of Nations

1. Wilson didn't want to weaken the League & refused to compromise w/ the Senate

2. Wilson toured the U.S. to gain public support for the treaty, but had a stroke

during the tour

3. In 1920, the Senate voted ______the treaty & U.S.

membership in the League of Nations

IV. Conclusions: The impact of the Great War:

A. The U.S. began the 20th century as an ______power & reluctantly entered

WWI to protect ______

B. Involvement in World War One led to changes for women & African-Americans, an

economic boom, & the restriction of liberties

C. The U.S. played a major role in the peace process, but refusal to join the League weakened the ability of world leaders to stop ______