THE WORLD AT WAR

18.4 Peace Without Victory

“What we demand . . . 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.”

- Woodrow Wilson, 1918

Focus Your Thoughts . . .

What do you think will be some of the immediate effects of the “War to End All

Wars” . . .

Politically? Economically? Socially?

Why was this considered a war ‘without victory’, even though the Allied Powers were victorious?

Wilson’s Fourteen Points

The destruction and massive loss of life of WWI was shocking . . .

President Wilson wanted a “just and lasting peace”

His plan for world peace was referred to as the Fourteen Points

The First Five Points

1. Open diplomacy2. Freedom of the seas3. Removal of trade barriers4. Reduction of military arms5. Proposed a fair system to resolved disputes over

colonies

The next eight dealt directly with ‘self-determination’

The right of people to determine their own political status Example: Wilson wanted the different ethnic groups within

Austria-Hungary to be able to form their own nations

The Fourteenth Point

Called for the establishment of the ‘League of Nations’ The League would be an organization of nations that would work

together to settle disputes, protect democracy, and prevent war

The Components of the Fourteen Points

Applied the principles of progressivism to foreign policy The ideals of free trade, democracy, and self-

determination are all things which the Progressives fought for . . .

Most importantly, the Fourteen Points declared that the foreign policy of democratic nation should be based on morality, not just what was best for that nation

Review: Who formed the Progressive Party??

(Hint: He’s a BAMF)

Paris Peace Conference

President Wilson led the group of American negotiators who attended the peace conference in 1919

President Wilson enjoyed a heroes welcome in Paris; he was the first U.S. President ever to visit Europe while in office

President Wilson arrives in Paris

The Conference Opens

The Conference began on January 12, 1919

Leaders from thirty-two nations – representing about three-quarters of the world’s population – attended the conference

The Big Four dominated negotiations The leaders of the victorious Allied Powers

David Lloyd George, British Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau, French Premier Vittorio Orlando, Italian Prime Minister

Conflicting Needs

Deal openly Trade fairly Reduce arsenals

Punish Germany

President Wilson The Other Allied Powers

• Still others came seeking independence, hoping to build new nations• Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Poland

The Treaty of Versailles

The Allied Powers eventually reached a consensus

They presented their peace agreement to Germany in May of 1919

The Treaty:1. Forced Germany to disarm its military forces2. Required Germany to pay the Allies ‘reparations’

Payments for damages and expenses

3. Demanded Germany accept sole responsibility for WWI4. Created nine new nations

Included Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and Poland

5. Included some of Wilson’s Fourteen Points The establishment of the League of Nations

6. Required the Central Powers to surrender all its colonies to the Allied Powers

Germany strongly protested the terms, but was threatened with French military action, and signed the Treaty on June 28, 1919

The Fight Over the Treaty

Wilson returned to the U.S. on July 8, 1919

The Treaty had to be approved by the Senate The Senate immediately divided into three

groups: Democrats who supported immediate

ratification The ‘irreconcilables’, who urged outright

rejection of participation in the League of Nations

The ‘reservationists’, who would ratify the treaty only if changes were made

Focused their criticism on the part of the League of Nations which required its members to use military force to carry out its decisions

How do you think Wilson responded to this opposition?

Wilson’s Response

Wilson refused to compromise with the reservationists and took his case directly to the American people In twenty-two days, Wilson traveled 8,000

miles and made thirty-two speeches

“I can predict with absolute certainty that within another generation there will be

another world war if the nations of the world do not concert [agree upon] the method by

which to prevent it.”

Wilson’s Health Deteriorates

Wilson’s speaking schedule took a heavy toll on his health, and on September 25, 1919, he collapsed

In early October, he suffered a stroke and never fully recovered

He finished out the rest of his term living privately in the White House, cut off from everyone except his wife and closest aides

After Wilson left office in 1921, the United States signed separate peace treaties Austria, Germany, and Hungary

The United States never joined the League of Nations!!!!!

Assignment

As you know, the United States never joined the League of Nations President Wilson fought so desperately for; consider Wilson’s prophetic words from our earlier slide:

“I can predict with absolute certainty that within another generation there will be another world war if the nations of the world do not concert [agree

upon] the method by which to prevent it.”

The League of Nations dissolved in 1946 during WWII and was later replaced by the United Nations, which the United States did join.

Was Wilson right?

Did the United State’s failure to join the League of Nations lead to the second world war? Why or why not?

What were some other contributing factors?