The notes include the three main leaders after WWI and the details of the Treaty of Versailles and how it affected other countries. It also includes the details of the treaty
- In January 1919, 27 countries came together to draw up the terms for peace.
-The meetings were led, and most decisions were made by the “Big Three” countries involved in
the war. Each had their own ideas of what the peace treaty should contain.
- France (Georges Clemenceau): Of the Big Three, France lost the most men in WWI (1.4
million). France wanted revenge for the 1870 loss to Germany in the Franco-Prussian War. They
wanted the province of Alsace-Lorraine returned, compensation for all the damage done by the
war, and a guarantee that another similar war with Germany would ever happen again. France
desired the harshest terms against Germany politically, economically, and militarily. Wanted
Germany to never be able to start a war again
- Great Britain (David Lloyd-George): Although Britain wanted revenge against
Germany, it did not want to make the penalties so harsh that Germany would not be able to
recover economically. It was in Britain’s best interests to have a strong trading partner. More
importantly, Britain believed that if Germany’s economy was destroyed, it would be more likely
that Germany would fall to Communism, he wanted to trade with Germany despite punishing
them heavily.
- USA (Woodrow Wilson): Although the US wanted to see Germany punished, they
believed that it was important for Germany to have enough economic strength to re-establish
trade with the allies. Wilson wanted to see a peace that was based on his 14 Points. Idealist
who come up with League of Nation.
- On May 7, 1919 the Big Three “dictated” their terms to Germany. The terms were not
negotiable. Germany was forced to accept them or face a possible invasion or a continued
blockade. The peace treaty was a “dictat” or dictated peace where Germany had no input
whatsoever.
- On June 23, 1919, German representatives signed the Treaty of Versailles which included
Article 231, the War Guilt Clause. This forced Germany to accept full blame for the war.
- The treaty was divided into three sections: one dealing with territorial losses, one with military
clauses, and one with reparations.
Some of the key points of the Treaty of Versailles:
- Alsace-Lorraine was to be given back to France.
-Germany was stripped of all its colonies.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller denisechung. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $8.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
