Versailles Treaty - American Perspective

President Wilson spent the first half of 1919 in Versailles, France, negotiating at peace conference. He had already called for a 'peace without victory' and he set out his 'Fourteen Points' as a basis for a treaty. The key point was to create a league of nations as the basis for a new international, moral order and to prevent future wars. Such a league would encourage the American values of democracy and free trade, would curb unilateralism, i.e. make states consult about foreign affairs, and be able to mediate in disputes. It would make WWI the 'war to end all wars'. The Treaty of Versailles did create the League of Nations, but Wilson did not achieve 'peace without victory' as many of the key terms punished Germany by, for example, imposing huge reparations and depriving Germany of its colonies.

Once the negotiations were over, Wilson faced another argument as there was considerable opposition in Congress to ratifying and signing the Treaty. Wilson toured America to rally popular support. However, Woodrow Wilson suffered a massive stroke in October 1919. For the next six months he never met his Cabinet and all communications with him was through his wife and doctor.

However, through them he continued to insist that Democrats must not compromise about the terms of the ratification. After two attempts at ratification in November 1919 and March 1920, both of which failed because of Republican opposition and the Democrat's failure to compromise, it was accepted that no further attempt was viable. Instead, Congress passed a resolution in July 1921 formally ending the War, but without signing any peace treaty. Wilson's attempt to match American values and 'exceptionalism' to the complex realities of the post-war world had failed. The USA never signed the Treaty of Versailles nor joined the League of Nations. The Democrats refused to select Wilson as their presidential candidate in 1920 and the Republican Warren Harding won a landslide victory on a platform of a return to 'normalcy'.

The Fourteen Points

Wilson wanted a peace settlement that would bring lasting peace. To this end, he proposed a settlement based on his 'Fourteen Points'. The Fourteen Points were roughly grouped into three categories. The first five considered general principles to maintain orderly relations between countries, based in part on what had gone wrong and led to war. In particular, there should no more secret agreements between nations as these led to insecurity and double-dealing - diplomacy should be open and above board.

The next eight dealt with matters of self-determination, with borders being redrawn according to the wishes of local populations. Included in this was the restoration of Alsace-Lorraine to France and renewed…