8.4 - Versailles Conference and Peace Settlement

Woodrow Wilson and the Treaty of Versailles

Versailles Peace Conference:

• Tension Among Victorious Powers:

  • The United States, Great Britain, and France—the "Big Three"—had differing visions for how peace should be administered after World War I.

Woodrow Wilson’s Vision:

• Idealism:

  • U.S. President Woodrow Wilson played a significant role in shaping the peace settlement, despite the relatively small role of the U.S. military in the war.

  • Wilson’s vision for European peace was idealistic, aiming to create a world where nations would no longer go to war.

• The Fourteen Points:

  • Key Provisions:

    • Reduction of arms among nations.

    • Open diplomatic relationships instead of secret treaties.

    • Self-Determination: Wilson emphasized the right of nations to determine their own futures, challenging longstanding imperial traditions.

  • League of Nations:

    • Wilson’s most ambitious proposal was the creation of the League of Nations, an international body dedicated to preventing war.

    • Challenges:

      • The League of Nations was formed, but it faced significant obstacles: the U.S. Senate refused to ratify it, fearing it would drag the U.S. into wars without Congressional approval. Additionally, Germany and Russia did not participate, undermining its effectiveness.

British and French Perspectives:

• Punishment of Germany:

  • David Lloyd George (Britain): The British Prime Minister campaigned on a platform to punish Germany for the war, which was a popular sentiment in Britain.

  • Georges Clemenceau (France): The French Premier sought to punish Germany severely, aiming to protect France from future German aggression. His goals included demilitarizing Germany, imposing reparations, and creating a buffer zone in the Rhineland.

Strained Relations with Russia:

• Distrust of Communism:

  • Russia, having undergone a Communist Revolution and withdrawn from the war, was distrusted by Western European powers.

  • Support for Neighboring States:

    • The Western powers bolstered states neighboring Russia, such as Poland and Czechoslovakia, to counterbalance Russian influence. These and other newly formed states, known as Democratic Successor States, were strengthened at the expense of Germany and Russia.

Key Provisions of the Treaty with Germany:

• War Guilt Clause:

  • This clause placed the entire blame for the war on Germany and Austria (primarily Germany). The humiliation from this clause contributed to the rise of Fascism in Germany, eventually leading to World War II.

• Reparations:

  • Germany was required to pay reparations for the damage caused during the war. The massive financial burden crippled Germany’s economy and sowed the seeds for future conflict.

• Demilitarization and Land Cessions:

  • The treaty mandated the demilitarization of Germany and required it to cede territory. These conditions weakened the post-war Weimar Republic, contributing to its eventual collapse in the 1930s.

The League of Nations and the Mandate System

Impact of the Treaty of Versailles:

• Redrawing the Map of Europe:

  • The Treaty of Versailles significantly altered the map of Europe, particularly Eastern Europe.

  • Dissolution of Empires:

    • The Russian Empire lost substantial territory.

    • The Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, and German Empires dissolved entirely.

  • New Borders and Ethnic Minorities:

    • The new borders were drawn by the victorious powers of the war, often with no consideration for the ethnic minorities within those regions.

    • In some cases, these borders split unified ethnic groups, and in others, they enclosed rival ethnic groups together, sowing seeds for future conflicts.

Establishment of the Mandate System:

• Promises to Arab Nations:

  • During the war, the Allied powers promised several Arab nations under Ottoman rule that their independence would be recognized.

  • However, the temptation to control these regions, particularly due to the wealth of oil in the Middle East, proved too strong.

• Mandates Under the League of Nations:

  • France and Britain’s Role:

    • Under the authority of the League of Nations, France took control of Lebanon and Syria, while Britain took control of Iraq and Palestine.

  • Imperialism in Disguise:

    • Although these territories were termed "mandates" and were technically administered for the League of Nations, in reality, they operated much like colonies. This continuation of imperialist practices was thinly veiled by the mandate system.