The End of World War I

negotiating the peace

• many germans turned to wilson as he was viewed as relatively softhearted

• october 1918 → sought solutions centered around the 14 points

role of the us

• us' main contributions to the allied victory had been food products, munitions, credits, oil, and manpower (though no major victories in battle)

• prospect, rather than presence, of infinite us troops was what demoralized the germans into defeat

goals of the big four

• wilson (us): controlled much of the conversation, establish world parliament (league of nations), preventing vengeance against opposing side

• victors would not take possession of the conquered territory outright, but would receive it as trustees of the league of nations

• orlando (italy):fiume (italy v yugoslavia)

• david lloyd george (britain):

• clemenceau (france): rhineland + saar valley (coal)

“the treaty that bred a new war”

treaty of versailles: key provisions + treatment of germany

• only 4/23 of wilson's original points were thoroughly addressed in the treaty

• some of his points had to be sacrificed in order to form the league of nations

• germany feels betrayed, this is cited by people such as adolf hitler when tensions begin to build, eventually starting wwii

reactions to the treaty of versailles in the us

different "sides" on the treaty; arguments + reasons for rejection

• many republicans (enough to overrule the bill in congress) were opposed to because they believed it was ineffective or too controlling overall

• opposed by isolationists → didn't want american involvement in the league of nations

• opposed by ___-americans (eg. german-americans, italian-americans) for a failure to benefit their respective homelands

• irish-americans believed that it gave too much power to britain through the league of nations as the treaty would allow five additional votes to britain due to its overseas dominions → they believed that it would stifle irish independence efforts and once again, give undue influence to britain

role of president wilson

• internationally recognized as a beacon of peace and power, initially acclaimed across europe as the man who brought an end to wwi

• in aiming to solidify himself as a strong leader, he promised democratic victory in the us election of 1918 → republicans ended up gaining a small majority in congress and thus tarnishing his otherwise strong reputation among world leaders going into paris

• now viewed as a fallen idol and effective traitor to all european countries - whether admonished in italy for his failure to provide fiume or germany for the lack of all his points in the treaty of versailles