Treaty of Versailles and League of Nations
- Created by: hollyobxox
- Created on: 10-04-15 17:27
Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations
The Big Three
America – Wilson
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Idealist – believed the perfect solution could be found.
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Had plans to make sure war never broke out again
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January 1918 published 14 points
Some of his core beliefs
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World peace à nations would have to co-operate.
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Self-determination à single national group had a right to rule themselves
Somewhere easy to put into action, others theory. Some of the points were
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No secret treaties
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Free access to sea and trade
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Disarmament
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League of Nations to be set up.
France – Clemenceau
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November 1917 became president (in mid 70s)
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Ensured that Germany would never inflict same damage
Had three main aims
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Alsace-Lorraine returned to France
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Germany must pay for suffering à money and land
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Germany lose land on French border so France felt more secure.
Britain – Lloyd George
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Experienced willy politician
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Understood there would be comprises and peace talks
Aims:
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Wanted Germany punished but not severely like France, which went against most Brittish people.
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Wanted to protect Naval Colonies so disagreed with free access to sea
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Wanted to start trading with Germany
Search for Agreement
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Wilson à arrogant, irritable would only talk self-determination
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Clemenceau à wanted revenge for suffering and destruction
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Lloyd George à in the middle
March 1919 Wilson and Clemenceau at each other throats Lloyd George took control
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Clemenceau agreed to League of Nations
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Wilson agree War Guilt clause which led to reparations
Treaty of Versailles
Territorial Changes
Germany lost 10% of its land, 16% coalfield, 50% iron and steel industry all overseas colonies
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Alsace-Lorraine à France
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West Prussia, Posen & Upper Silesia à Poland
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L of N à Saar for 15 years but France got the coalfields
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Germany forbidden to unite with Austria
Military Restrictions
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Army limited to 10,000 soldiers
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Conscription was banned
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No tanks, submarines, or aircrafts
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6 battleships
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Rhineland demilitarised
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Allies keep an army of occupation on the west bank for 15 years
War guilt and Reparations
War guilt clause 231 forced Germany to accept responsibility
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Provided justification for Germanys punishment in peace settlement
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1921 reparations set 6.6 billion
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Idea was Germany would pay certain amounts over 42 years.
League of Nations
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Maintain international peace
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Covenant was included beginning of treaty
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Role was to ensure treaty was carried out
Strengths
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Signed by 45 countries
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Recognised map of the world in which three major empires (Russia, Turkish and Austrian-Hungarian) had collapsed
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Genuine attempt create war free world
Weakness
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Deeply unpopular French general wanted Rhineland independent country
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Japan and Italy didn’t feel rewarded sufficiently enough
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American delegates tried to persuade Congress to reject it
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Britain though too harsh, damage world trade. Lloyd George predict another war.
Anger in Germany
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Didn’t believe lost just signed armistice expected talk
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Weren’t at Paris Peace Conference à Diktat (dictated peace)
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1914 Germany wasn’t a democracy – Kaiser Wilhelm II fled the country
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Allies should support democracy (Weimer Republic)
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‘stabbed in the back’ by November Criminals who agreed end fighting in 1918
German view
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