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History IGCSE/GCSE - Treaty of Versailles
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This edocument includes study notes on the history IGCSE/GCSE international course, specifically on the topic about the Treaty of Versailles.
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Aims of the big three: Wilson's viewpoint (6)In 1919 it is thought that the peacemakers had an impossible job but people had great
optimism because of president woodrow wilson. He made a speech in 1918 outlining his
main points
Wilsons ideas:
- Don't be too harsh on Germany
- Wilson believed that if Germany was treated harshly they would recover and
get revenge. He was also concerned that some extremist groups such as
communists might even seize power over the Germans as they had in Russia
in 1917.
- Strengthen democracy in defeated countries
- For Wilson democracy was key.
- Give self determination to countries who were part of empires
- He wanted small countries to rule themselves. Such as the Poles, Czecks
and Slovaks.
- International cooperation
- Wilson believed that countries should need to cooperate to achieve world
peace. This cooperation would be achieved by the League of nations.
Although he was an idealist he did not cancel the debt by Britain and its allies so that he
could put pressure on them to accept his ideas.
Did everyone agree with Wilson?
Leaders did agree with wilson about lasting peace but people doubted about how he wanted
to achieve this.
LLoyd George:
- In public he agreed with Wilson but in private he complained that Wilson came to
Europe as a missionary to rescue European savages.
- He agreed with him on his point of having Germany punished but not harshly. He did
not want another war.
- He wanted Britain to trade with Germany.
- Also wanted Germany to lose its colonies and navy because they threatened the
british empire. (He had the needs of the british empire in mind.)
Pressure on Lloyd George:
- He had won the elections promising to make Germany pay.
- British people were not sympathetic as they had also lost people and suffered.
- They had also seen how Germany had treated Russia in the treaty of brest-litovsk.
- He had to balance the pressure with Germany not seeking revenge.
Clemenceau:
- In public he agreed with Wilson but he found him hard to work with.
- The french believed this was the chance to destroy Germany to make it unable to
attack France again.
Pressure on Clemenceau:
- The war affected France greatly. The french wanted a treaty that would punish
Germany and weaken it as much as possible. He knew the rest wouldn't like it but he
had to show he was aware of the public opinion on france
, The peacemaking process (They didn't agree much):
- Clemenceau and Wilson disagreed over what to do with the rheinland and the
coalfields in the saar. They had both suffered differently and France wanted a
bigger punishment.
- Clemenceau argued with George over treating Germany harshly.
- George disagreed with point 2 of 14 which allowed countries to access the
seas. And Wilson's view of people caring for themselves threatened the british
empire.
The Terms of the Treaty of Versailles:
The War Guilt Clause:
It is the article 231 of the treaty of versailles and says that germany has to accept all
responsibility for its loss and all the damage that has been done to the allies has to be paid
by germany. Germany has to accept all the guilt for all the war and losses.
It was added in the treaty because in order to get the French and Belgians to agree
to reduce the sum of money that Germany would have to pay to compensate for war
damage.
The impact was very bad for Germany as they had to pay for everything and
Germany said it was unfair and also Germany did not attend the conference and if they didn't
agree the allies would threaten them by going to war again. It was a harsh punishment.
Angers Germans as they see it as a DIKTAT - a forced treaty.
Territorial losses:
Schleswig-Holstein goes to Denmark, Alsace-Lorraine goes to France and the Polish
corridor goes to Poland (Give access to sea to trade) - One of witro wilson's 14 points to give
countries SELF-DETERMINATION . Czechoslov akia & Yugoslavia formed.
No union between Austria and Germany was allowed.
Baltic states (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) become independent.
SELF-DETERMINATION.
Saar - ruled by LON, in 15 years they were to told to decide which country to join
france or germany with Plebiscite (Popular vote- Referendum)
All german colonies taken away and given to Britain and France. Ruled by
MANDATE - Taking care of them / ruling on their behalf.
Polish corridor - Port city of Danzig - independent and is ruled by LON.
They lose valuable colonies and industrial land and angers the population.
Military terms:
Soldiers limited to 100,000 men.
No submarines, planes and 6 battleships.
Conscription (Obligating men to go to the army) is banned.
Rhienland is Demilitarised. (No troops / weapons)
Reparations:
Had to pay 6,600 Million pounds
Would have finished paying in 1984 and got reduced in 1929.
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