Notes
Motives of the US:
President woodrow wilson led american delegation
submitted the 14 points
wanted to rebuild germany on democratic lines
wanted self determination for many european countries
Motives of France:
george clemenceau leader of france (the walrus)
wanter to dismember germany
weaken germany so the could never make the war again
wanted severe reparations paid
Motives of Great Britain:
David lloyd george (welsh wizard)
also wanted reparations
also wanted germany to remain fairly strong as a trade partner
also wanted to expand her overseas empire
"Sun never sets on the British empire", wanted even more colonies
The Big Three:
Originally "The Big Four, the leader of Italy Vittorio Orlando left due to not getting the land he wanted.
The Big Three are David Lloyd George, the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Woodrow WIlson, the President of the United States, and the Prime Minister of France, George Clemenceau.
Woodrow Wilson's 14 points:
Originally for the American people to justify war in Europe
presented at the paris peace conference
The most important were: Outlawing alliances, freedom of the seas, free trade, disarmament, return of russian territory held by germany, Alsace-Lorraine returned to france, formation of the league of nations (collective security, self determination.
War Guilt Clause:
"Perhaps the single greatest cause of World War II was born out of the peace treaty that ended World War I: the War guilt clause."
Germany "admits" guilty to starting the war
forced to accept all parts of the treaty
most hated part of the war by germans
War Reparations:
Set much too high by the Big Three
55 billion US dollars
Germany couldn't even afford to pay the interest on the reparations
france took materials from factories to make speed along payment process
Treaties with Lesser Powers:
The treaties used to deal with Germany's allies in the war
Treaty of Saint Germain (Austria)
Treaty of Neuilly (Bulgaria)
Treaty of Trianon (Hungary)
Treaty of Sevres (Turkey)
Nationalism and Formation of New Countries:
Lithuania, Albania, and Bulgaria are separated from russia as part of the Paris Peace Treaty
Poland and Ukraine also taken from Germany and Russia
League of Nations:
A prototype United Nations, that was doomed to fail from the start due to the disclusion of Russia, Germany, and the United States, some of the biggest warmongers in the world at the time.
DIdn't have enough bite to back up its bark
Many countries could simply leave the League to avoid its consequences.
President woodrow wilson led american delegation
submitted the 14 points
wanted to rebuild germany on democratic lines
wanted self determination for many european countries
Motives of France:
george clemenceau leader of france (the walrus)
wanter to dismember germany
weaken germany so the could never make the war again
wanted severe reparations paid
Motives of Great Britain:
David lloyd george (welsh wizard)
also wanted reparations
also wanted germany to remain fairly strong as a trade partner
also wanted to expand her overseas empire
"Sun never sets on the British empire", wanted even more colonies
The Big Three:
Originally "The Big Four, the leader of Italy Vittorio Orlando left due to not getting the land he wanted.
The Big Three are David Lloyd George, the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Woodrow WIlson, the President of the United States, and the Prime Minister of France, George Clemenceau.
Woodrow Wilson's 14 points:
Originally for the American people to justify war in Europe
presented at the paris peace conference
The most important were: Outlawing alliances, freedom of the seas, free trade, disarmament, return of russian territory held by germany, Alsace-Lorraine returned to france, formation of the league of nations (collective security, self determination.
War Guilt Clause:
"Perhaps the single greatest cause of World War II was born out of the peace treaty that ended World War I: the War guilt clause."
Germany "admits" guilty to starting the war
forced to accept all parts of the treaty
most hated part of the war by germans
War Reparations:
Set much too high by the Big Three
55 billion US dollars
Germany couldn't even afford to pay the interest on the reparations
france took materials from factories to make speed along payment process
Treaties with Lesser Powers:
The treaties used to deal with Germany's allies in the war
Treaty of Saint Germain (Austria)
Treaty of Neuilly (Bulgaria)
Treaty of Trianon (Hungary)
Treaty of Sevres (Turkey)
Nationalism and Formation of New Countries:
Lithuania, Albania, and Bulgaria are separated from russia as part of the Paris Peace Treaty
Poland and Ukraine also taken from Germany and Russia
League of Nations:
A prototype United Nations, that was doomed to fail from the start due to the disclusion of Russia, Germany, and the United States, some of the biggest warmongers in the world at the time.
DIdn't have enough bite to back up its bark
Many countries could simply leave the League to avoid its consequences.
Audio
Video
Summary
Motives of the US:
Most lenient of the BIg Three, democratic Europe, and self Determination
Motives of France:
Harshest of the big three, wanted money to repair france after war
Motives of Great Britain:
Wanted money to repair land, neutral in debates, wanted Germany for trade
The Big Three:
David Lloyd George, George Clemenceau, Woodrow Wilson
Prime minister of Britain, Prime minister of France, President of US.
War guilt CLause:
Ensures Germany takes rep for WW1, angered many Germans
War Reparations:
Germany forced to pay exorbitant amounts of money, france takes materials to speed payment along.
Treaties with lesser powers:
See below
Nationalism and formation of new countries:
Similar to Germany but much less harsh, some are given their own countries, and some are pulled into different ones. The different treaties are named after different neighborhoods in Paris.
League of Nations and Collective Security:
League is a poorly designed United Nations, and is doomed to fail. Collective Security is countries agreeing to stop any wars should they start.
Most lenient of the BIg Three, democratic Europe, and self Determination
Motives of France:
Harshest of the big three, wanted money to repair france after war
Motives of Great Britain:
Wanted money to repair land, neutral in debates, wanted Germany for trade
The Big Three:
David Lloyd George, George Clemenceau, Woodrow Wilson
Prime minister of Britain, Prime minister of France, President of US.
War guilt CLause:
Ensures Germany takes rep for WW1, angered many Germans
War Reparations:
Germany forced to pay exorbitant amounts of money, france takes materials to speed payment along.
Treaties with lesser powers:
See below
Nationalism and formation of new countries:
Similar to Germany but much less harsh, some are given their own countries, and some are pulled into different ones. The different treaties are named after different neighborhoods in Paris.
League of Nations and Collective Security:
League is a poorly designed United Nations, and is doomed to fail. Collective Security is countries agreeing to stop any wars should they start.
Quotes
Woodrow Wilson: "It is that the world be made fit and safe to live in; and particularly that it be made safe for every peace-loving nation which, like our own, wishes to live its own life, determine its own institutions, be assured of justice and fair dealing by the other peoples of the world as against force and selfish aggression."
George Clemenceau: "War is a series of catastrophes that results in a victory."
David Lloyd George: "Four spectres haunt the Poor — Old Age, Accident, Sickness and Unemployment. We are going to exorcise them. We are going to drive hunger from the hearth. We mean to banish the workhouse from the horizon of every workman in the land."
George Clemenceau: "War is a series of catastrophes that results in a victory."
David Lloyd George: "Four spectres haunt the Poor — Old Age, Accident, Sickness and Unemployment. We are going to exorcise them. We are going to drive hunger from the hearth. We mean to banish the workhouse from the horizon of every workman in the land."
Subjunctive Question
What if France was more lenient towards Germany during the determination of Germany's consequences? Assuming England still wanted some war reparations, Germany would still have to pay, but a more reasonable amount. A larger military allowance seems to fit, as well as a