Download AIM: What was the Treaty of Versailles

AIM: What was the Treaty of Versailles?
The Peace Conference
The negotiations at the peace conference took place among the Big Four
nations: the United States, Britain, France, Italy. Neither Germany nor Russia
was invited.
The Allies disagreed as to the terms of a peace treaty. Wilson hoped his
Fourteen Points plan would be accepted, but many compromises had to be
made. European Allies wanted revenge for the damage Germany caused to their
countries.
The Allies also discussed dealing with the new Bolshevik regime in Russia.
France, Britain and the United States sent troops to Russia, fearing the spread of
communism and supporting the anti-Bolshevik fighting for control.
Germany and the Allies signed the Treaty of Versailles in June 1919. The terms
said:
 Germany had to accept full responsibility for the war and pay billions of
dollars in reparations to the Allies for the damages caused in the war.
 Germany had to completely disarm and give up overseas colonies and
some territory in Europe.
The treaty also carved up collapsed Austro-Hungarian and Russian Empires.
New nations were created, and old ones were restored. Many of the new
borders were disputed though, leading to future conflicts.
The treaty included the creation of the League of Nations, although other points
of President Wilson’s plan were rejected. The president hoped that including the
League would correct any mistakes in the rest of the treaty.
Opposition at Home
The Treaty of Versailles was presented to the United States Senate for
ratification in 1919. It was rejected in 1920. In 1921, the United States signed a
separate peace treaty with each of the Central Powers. The United States did
not join the League of Nations.
Many Americans felt the treaty dealt too harshly with Germany, and they did not
want to participate in the League of Nations. They felt the League was a
permanent commitment to international affairs that would prevent America from
setting its own foreign policy.
The most powerful opponent was Henry Cabot Lodge of Massachusetts, head of
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He delayed a vote so opponents could
present their cases, and he proposed a number of reservations that would limit
America’s obligations.
President Wilson went on a national speaking tour to gain support for the treaty
and for the League. In late September, he had a stroke that left him partially
paralyzed. Even so, he considered running a third term.
In March 1920, the Senate voted on the Treaty with Lodge’s changes. President
Wilson asked Democrats to vote against it. With so much opposition, the treaty
did not pass.