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25 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Paris Peace Conference
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Held in January 1919.
Planned to be a pre-conference meeting to sort out differences before negotiations of peace began. Ended up being Paris Peace Conference itself. Germans had no representative and no part in negotiation. USSR (Russia) not permitted input as no trust in communists from Western allies. Leaders from all over the world attended. Leaders of USA, Britain and France were under pressure to reach settlement of the problems dominating Europe. |
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Aims of George Clemenceau.
(Prime Minister of France) Aged 77 when peace talks began |
Elected after promising to win the war for France and to ensure that same damage could never be inflicted by Germany on France again.
Clemenceau had three main aims and the French people believed they had politician who would fight their case. Under a lot of pressure to make Germany pay. • Alsace-Lorraine must be returned to the French empire after it was taken by Germany in 1870. • Germany must pay for the suffering that the French people had to endure. The French were adamant that this payment should be the likes of money and land. • Germany must lose land on the border with France in order to make the French more secure from future attack. |
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Aims of Woodrow Wilson.
(President of the United States of America) |
He was an idealist, believed he could find perfect solution.
To make sure war never broke out again Woodrow made plans. Before the end of the war Woodrow had made his views clear. Most of the Fourteen Points were easy to act upon. Many people from Eastern Europe were now all over the place. Some people had to obey rules and people who had a different languages, lifestyle and culture. |
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The Fourteen Points published by Woodrow Wilson. To help make peace.
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Some of the Fourteen Points January 1918
1. No secret treaties. 2. Free access to the seas. 3. Free trade between countries. 4. Disarmament. 5. Colonies to have a say in their own future. 8. France to regain Alsace-Lorraine. 10. Self-determination for the people of Eastern Europe. 13. Poland to become an independent state. 14. League of Nations to be set up. |
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Wilsons main beliefs
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• To achieve world peace in the future, nations would all have to co-operate.
• A nation had the right to self-determination. In other words, people of a single national group had the right to rule themselves. (This was the guiding point of the Fourteen Points and made colonialism unacceptable.) |
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Wilsons main beliefs continued
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Believed Germany should be punished.
Also believed if treaty was harsh the Germans would start to plot revenge so he compromised. Germans would be punished but not too harshly. They should lose territory but not be charged with damage costs. USA didn't experience full devastation of war like France, Britain, Russia and other European countries had because American soldiers only reached Europe in late 1917. Gives explanation for the attitude of American soldiers and carefree approach towards Germany. |
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What Wilson wanted
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Key man in the peace treaty and the League of Nations, why some Germans looked to him make fair decisions.
To keep the peace he wanted all countries to become a member of the League of Nations. what he wanted out of the peace treaty was a better, fair, war free world so he could get on with ruling America and deciding when to plunge into isolation next. |
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The aims of Lloyd George:
The Prime Minister of Britain. experienced politician. |
A settlement wouldn't be reached if - no compromises and he recognised that.
Clemenceau and Wilson were at logger heads in March 1919 he took control. Made Clemenceau agree to the League if Nations and Wilson agree to the ‘War Guilt’ clause. Shared same view as Wilson, avoid revenge Germany should not be punished harshly but they should be punished. Most of Britain’s population did not support this decision. Outraged - December 1918 election his government promised to ‘squeeze the German lemon until the pips squeak’ didn’t stick to that promise. Changed his viewpoint to gain votes, he never intended to make Germany pay Wilson and George differed in views about ‘Free access to the seas’. Disliked idea he wanted to protect the British navy and reduce the German navy. |
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Main aim of Lloyd George
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To extend British Empire but he already knew that Britain was a trading nation.
Britain and Germany were good trading partners. wanted them to start trading again Explanation of why he was against German being punished to harshly didn’t want trading routes to be closed otherwise Britain would suffer. |
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Treaty of Versallies
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In May 1919 the terms were finally concluded and ready to present to the Germans who were unwilling to sign.
Brutally forced to sign it otherwise war would commence . Officially signed by leading politicians of victorious countries and the two German delegates Doktor Bell and the German Foreign Minister – Count Von Brackdorff-Rantao 28th June 1919. Made the 16 kilometre train journey to Versailles after departing from Paris. |
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Land Lost
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Loss of 10% of its land.
• Alsace and Lorraine were returned to France. • Eupen and Malmedy went to Belgium. • Northern Schleswig went to Denmark. • Memel was taken over by the League of Nations and transferred to Lithuania in 1923. • West Prussia, Posen and part of Upper Silesia were given to Poland. • League of Nations was meant to control the Saar (west Germany) for 15 years but France controlled the coalfields (16%). • Danzig was made a free country but was still under the control of the LON. • Germany lost all land it had previously taken from Russia in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (March 1918) • Germany was forbidden to unite with Austria. • Germany lost ALL of the colonies to Britain and France. Lost half of steel and iron industry and 12.5% of population. people were now all over the place obeying rulers with different culture |
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Financial Terms
War Guilt Clause (Clause 231) |
Clause 231: The Allied governments affirm Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the Allied governments and their people have been subjected as a result of the war.
Germany was made to pay for the war by repercussions/reparations and amount not announced in 1921 but set at £6.6 billion. Germany would pay a set amount every year for 42 years |
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Military Restrictions
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Stop Germany’s army and keep at lower level.
Military restrictions • German Army was limited to 100 000 soldiers. • Conscription was banned; all soldiers had to be volunteers. • Germany was not allowed tanks, submarines or military aircraft. • Germany’s navy could only have 6 battleships. • The Rhineland became a demilitarised zone. No troops were allowed to go on land to the west of the Rhine or 48 Kilometres wide on the east bank. • Allies were to keep an army of occupation on the west bank for 15 years. The Germans built up navy and took part in competitions (Naval Race with British) for it to be sunk to the bottom of the sea because Britain told them to. |
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German Reaction to Treaty
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Learned the terms were angered.
Didn’t think had lost the war. Negotiations expected to follow when signed armistice. Most Germans rejected the Treaty. Germans thought Allies were trying to destroy country and Treaty was way. Allies blamed Germany for the war but Germany wasn't a democracy 1914 person to blame was Kaiser Wilhelm II. The Fourteen Points and territorial losses combined unfair to Germans. The territorial losses made Germans live under foreign rule. Nations of Eastern Europe given self-determination. Germany had accept responsibility for war, so when Doktor Bell and Count Von Brockdorff-Rantazau signed the treaty people were angered. |
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German reaction to Treaty continued
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Germany accused them of only wanting to expand their empires.
Similar treaties were issued to Austria-Hungary and Turkey; they were harsh but the Germans ignored them. Germans felt humiliated by the Treaty. When the Germans were made to sign the treaty they were embarrassed. They had forgotten they had put Russia in the same position at the Treaty of Brest-Litoush sever months earlier in 1918. Throughout Germany there was anger and resentment because of the treaty. The entire German population backed Adolf Hitler when he challenged the treaty terms in the 1930’s. |
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League of Nations
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The League of Nations was proposal of Wilson.
Part of the Treaty League of Nations was set up and pushed into action in January 1920. Wilson channelled his beliefs that the League could stop war again, France and Britain doubted the League aims but had no alternative idea so committed. The League of Nations was established with 26 rules that encouraged members to keep peace, co-operate in trade and improve the working/living conditions. Policy known as ‘collective security was Article 10; it stated that the members of league would act together to help other members that was threatened by war/invasion/uprising. |
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Membership of League of Nations
(Joined by 42 countries around the world.) |
Countries defeated by the Allies in WW1 such as Germany not given permission to join.
The Soviet Union also refused entry the government that is communist. This decision made the League appear to be a club for victorious countries. Many important nations were missing from the League. The USA never joined even thought it was Wilson’s idea. Germany permitted to join in 1926 but left in 1933. Japan departed in 1993, Italy said goodbye in 1937 The Soviet Union joined in 1934 but expelled 5 years later for declaring war on Finland. |
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Powers of the League
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The League set out 3 ways to handle disputes:
1. A hearing by a neutral country. 2. A ruling by the International Court of Justice 3. An inquiry by the Council of the League. If disputes weren't resolved using the three methods or the country refused to co-operate then actions could be taken.The League would impose: Economic Sanctions which meant that members could refuse to trade with the offending country. Moral Persuasion which meant pressure would be put on the offending country by lining up world opinion against them. Military force which is where armed forces could join together and be used against the offending country. |
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Structure of the League
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Made up of 5 parts: The Assembly, The Council, The Secretariat, The Permanent Court of International Justice and The Agencies.
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The Assembly
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Every country in the League sent representative to the assembly.
Recommend action to the Council Could vote on various issues, including the budget and the admission of new members. Met once a year at the Leagues headquarters in the Swiss city of Geneva. Decisions made by the Assembly had to be unanimous, all members had to agree. |
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The Council
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The Council was a smaller group.
Met several times a year and during emergencies. The Council had permanent members (in 1920 Britain, France, Italy and Japan. There was a 5th place for the USA). Non-permanent members who were elected every 3 years by the Assembly. Each of the Council’s permanent had a veto. A single no vote could stop a decision from being passed. Powers to act in various ways if it failed to persuade a country against a wrongful action. |
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The Secretariat
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Llike an international civil service.
Kept records of League meetings and prepared reports. Staff were linguists. English and France main languages spoken. Was under-staffed |
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The Permanent Court of International Justice
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The institution based at The Hague in the Netherlands was intended to help settle any disputes peacefully.
Decisions were made by judges from member countries. No way of enforcing its rulings |
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The Agencies
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Several bodies to deal with some of the world’s major problems.
These included: • Health Organisation • International Labour Organisation • Slavery Commission • Commission for Refugees • Permanent Mandates Commission (deal with former German colonies) |
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Strengths of League
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People wanted to prevent war when the LON was set up in 1919/1920 they support it.
Most believed goal to keep peace achievable. Government officials and public had good will towards it. Most of the victorious powerful countries had joined such as Britain, France, Italy and Japan. Defeated countries eventually allowed to join. 1930’s 59 countries were members. Main strength was the LON had been set up by Treaty and agreed by everybody at conference |
