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Name Period: Was the Treaty of Versailles peace settlement a success or failure? (History 4.2.3) Analyzes and evaluates how technology and ideas have shaped world history. (Social Studies Skills 5.3.1) Evaluates one’s own viewpoint and the viewpoints of others in the context of a discussion Date of Socratic Seminar: Pre-Assignment: 1. Read the articles “The Treaty of Versailles Success or Failure?” (MARK THE TEXT) (25% of grade) 2. Complete the Following Chart: (25% of grade) Failure: How the treaty failed. Success: How the treaty worked well. (At least 5) (At least 5) 1 Socratic Seminar Participant Rubric Conduct Speaking & Reasoning Listening Reading Excellent (4) Proficient (3) Demonstrates respect for the learning process; has patience with different opinions and complexity; shows initiative by asking others for clarification: brings others into the conversation, moves the conversation forward; speaks to all of the participants; avoids talking too much. Generally shows composure but may display impatience with contradictory or confusing ideas; comments, but does not necessarily encourage others to participate; may tend to address only the teacher or get into debates. Participates and expresses a belief that his/her ideas are important in understanding the text; may make insightful comments but is either too forceful or too shy and does not contribute to the progress of the conversation; tends to debate, not dialogue. Understands question before answering; cites evidence from text; expresses thoughts in complete sentences; move conversation forward; makes connections between ideas; resolves apparent contradictory ideas; considers others’ viewpoints, not only his/her own; avoids bad logic. Responds to questions voluntarily; comments show an appreciation for the text but not an appreciation for the subtler points within it; comments are logical but not connected to other speakers; ideas interesting enough that others respond to them. Responds to questions but may have to be called upon by others; has read the text but not put much effort into preparing questions and ideas for the seminar; comments take details into account but may not flow logically in conversation. Pays attention to details; writes down questions; responses take into account all participants; demonstrates that he/she has kept up; points out faulty logic respectfully; overcomes distractions. Generally pays attention and responds thoughtfully to ideas and questions of other participants and the leader; absorption in own ideas may distract the participant from the ideas of others. Has read the text and comes with some ideas from it but these may not be written out in advance; good understanding of the vocabulary but may mispronounce some new or foreign words. Appears to find some ideas unimportant while responding to others; may have to have questions or confusions repeated due to inattention; takes few notes during the seminar in response to ideas and comments. Appears uninvolved in the seminar; comments display complete misinterpretation of questions or comments of other participants. Appears to have read or skimmed the text but has not marked the text or made meaningful notes or questions; shows difficulty with vocabulary; mispronounces important words; key concepts misunderstood; little evidence of serious reflection prior to the seminar. Student is unprepared for the seminar; important words, phrases, ideas in the text are unfamiliar; no notes or questions marked in the text; no attempt made to get help with difficult material. Thoroughly familiar with the text; has notations and questions in the margins; key words, phrases, and ideas are highlighted; possible contradictions identified; pronounces words correctly. (You must mark the text! ) Approaching Standard (2) 2 Minimal Evidence (1) Displays little respect for the learning process; argumentative; takes advantage of minor distractions; uses inappropriate language; speaks to individuals rather than ideas; arrives unprepared without notes, pencil/pen or perhaps even without the text. Extremely reluctant to participate even when called upon; comments illogical and meaningless; may mumble or express incomplete ideas; little or no account taken of previous comments or important ideas in the text. Was the Treaty of Versailles peace settlement a success or failure? ...Socratic Seminar Discussion Questions History is full of debatable positions and controversy. During the Socratic seminar you will be required to participate directly in at least one of the following discussions and take notes on the rest. You will have the opportunity to give indirect feedback on all of these topics and to discuss topics you are most passionate about. Keep these ideas and questions in mind as you read and prepare. **Remember you will be scored on your ability to analyze and critique these controversial ideas with historical logic and support from the reading, not what you opinion is about them. 1. What where the most important benefits of the Treaty of Versailles? Use examples to support your thinking. Explain. 2. What where the negative aspects of the Treaty of Versailles? Use examples to support your thinking. Explain. 3. Which country or countries influenced the terms of the treaty the most? Use examples to support your thinking. Explain. 4. Why do you think the treaty lasted less than 20 years? Use examples to support your thinking. Explain. 5. Which terms of the treaty were most detrimental for Germany? Use examples to support your thinking. Explain. 6. If all nations had bought into the League of Nations, would it have prevented WWII? Use examples to support your thinking. Explain. The BIG picture: Was the Treaty of Versailles a success or failure? Use examples to support your thinking. Explain. 3 The Treaty of Versailles: Success or Failure? When the Great War (World War I) finally ended in 1918, the leaders of the victorious Allies gathered in Paris to arrange the peace. The final treaty was signed at the Palace of Versailles, near Paris, and thus it is called the Treaty of Versailles. The Treaty of Versailles adjusted the boundaries of several nations in Western Europe, disarmed Germany and forced the Germans to pay for the cost of the war. It also established an international organization, the League of Nations, to help keep the peace in the future. Three related treaties with German allies in Eastern Europe also created a number of new nations in what had been the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In creating new states and adjusting national boundaries, the leaders had several things in mind. Their main intent was to allow self-determination for every national group in Europe. They also wanted to draw boundaries that would ensure each nation’s security. With the exception of Woodrow Wilson, most of the leaders hoped to create a new “balance of power” like the one that had kept Europe at peace after the Congress of Vienna in 1815. Despite their hopes, the peace established at Versailles fell apart in just twenty years. Within fifteen years, both Germany and Italy were led by fascist dictators bent on aggression. In 1939, another Great War (World War II) broke out. Why had the peace failed? Did the agreements reached at Versailles help pave the way to World War II. In this lesson, you will be looking at the goals each nation sought to achieve at Versailles. You will be asked to compare these goals with the actual terms of the Treaty. Finally, you will be asked to judge whether or not the Treaty of Versailles led to World War II. The Goals of the Diplomats France The war on the Western Front had been fought mainly on French soil and much of the eastern part of that nation had been destroyed. France wanted to insure that it would never again be attacked by Germany. She wanted a territory called Alsace-Lorraine that Germany had taken after a war in 1870 returned to her control. France also wanted her national economy rebuilt. Great Britain British Prime Minister Lloyd George said that Germany should pay for the war. He said, “We shall squeeze the orange until the pip (pits) squeak.” Britain also wanted to ensure control of the seas and its status as a global, not just European power. United States Woodrow Wilson was an idealist who believed that World War I would be the “war to end all wars.” In his Fourteen Points, he called for a system of world security and the creation of new nations formed according to the wills of their people. Generally, he favored a lenient peace settlement for Germany and wanted no land reparations from that country. 4 Germany Germany had no voice in writing the Versailles Treaty, but was still a party to it. The German government hoped for a fair peace settlement. They did not want to lose large amounts of territory. More than anything else, they wanted to keep their “self respect.” Most Germans did not think they alone were responsible for starting the war. The Terms of the Treaty Territorial Provisions In all, Germany lost more than ten percent of the land on the continent of Europe that she had held before the war. Alsace-Lorraine was returned to France. German territory in the east such as Danzig, was given to the new nation of Poland. In addition, Britain took control of all German colonies overseas. Military Provisions Germany was essentially disarmed. Its army was limited to 100,000 men. It was not allowed to have military airplanes, tanks or artillery. They navy was destroyed. In the future, the German navy was limited to no more than twelve warships and no submarines. The Rhineland, an area between the Rhine River and France, was demilitarized and made into a neutral buffer zone. No German fortifications were permitted there. Political Provisions Article 231 said that Germany and her allies were aggressors in the war and must accept “responsibility… for causing all the loss and damage to which the Allies… and their nationals have been subjected as a consequence of the war.” The Treaty also called for the establishment of a League of Nations through which the nations of the world might work together to provide for their collective security in the future. Economic Provisions Germany was forced to pay war reparations to the Allies amounting to about five billion dollars over the next few years. In addition, France was given control of the Saar for fifteen years. The Saar is a region rich in coal and iron. Its resources helped the French rebuild their economy. Similarly, large portions of the German merchant and fishing fleets were turned over to the allies along with large numbers of railway locomotives and freight cars. Germany also had to deliver coal to France and Belgium and pay for French troops protecting the demilitarized Rhineland. Related Treaties Covering Eastern Europe In a related set of treaties with Germany’s allies, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Bulgaria, a number of new nations were formed in Eastern Europe. The treaty makers tried to include each national group in Eastern Europe in its own nation, but that proved impossible. Still, the leaders tried to form nations with firm boundaries, based as much as possible on a common language, ethnic identity and religion. 1. Directions: On the lines to the left below, indicate the goals which each of the countries listed hoped to achieve through the Treaty of Versailles. On the lines to the right of each goal, indicate whether that goal was achieved and which provisions of the treaty had a bearing on it. When you have finished, answer the questions. 5 Key Aspects of the Treaty Key Country Goals (What they Wanted) Treaty Provision (What each Country got) France 1. France 1. 2. 2. 3. 3. Great Britain 1. Great Britain 1. 2. 2. 3. 3. United States 1. United States 1. 2. 2. 3. 3. Germany 1. Germany 1. 2. 2. 3. 3. 6 Questions for Review and Interpretation 2. Were the goals of any of the Allied Nations (Britain, France, and United States) not achieved in the final Treaty? If so, which goals were not achieved? Do you think the failure to achieve these goals significantly weakened the peace? 3. Did the German government achieve its goals in the final Treaty? Which goals were not achieved? How do you think the failure to achieve these goals affected the stability of peace? 4. How did the Treaty try to provide security of European nations? 7 Read the “Two Views of the Versailles Treaty” below. After you have read it, Question 5 will ask you to decide which view you agree with the most, and you will write a short paragraph explaining your choice. Two Views of the Versailles Treaty Critics of Versailles Since 1919, many people have argued that the terms of the Versailles Treaty made World War II virtually inevitable. While the Allies were for the most part satisfied with the Peace established at Versailles, most Germans were not. Germans believed that the reparations were unjust and far too high. Many thought it was absurd that the Allies stripped so many economic resources from Germany at the same time they demanded cash reparations. How were they to pay! Because it was virtually stripped of its military, many Germans also believed that the Treaty failed to establish a real balance of power in Western Europe. Germany went from being a world power, with a mighty army, a navy and an overseas colonial empire, to being defenseless and partially occupied. Under those conditions, there could be no true balance of power. The overall impression given the German people was of a harsh peace in which they had been weakened and made to feel guilty for something they had not done. A rising politician named Adolf Hitler made the most of this discontent. Upon coming to power in 1933, Hitler overturned most provisions of the Treaty and began to edge the world into another global war. A Positive View It can also be argued that despite its flaws, the Treaty of Versailles in no way made a future war inevitable. In reality, German reparation payments were not all that severe, and the German economy was fully capable of making them. The amount of the reparations was no higher than the amount Hitler later spent arming Germany for war. Furthermore, the Versailles Treaty, and every other treaty signed after World War I, built a legacy of respect for all nations including Germany. These Treaties formally recognized the principle of national self-determination for all peoples. The Treaty left Germany intact and it left it with a democratic government. By disarming Germany, the Versailles Treaty created a situation in which war in Europe was literally unthinkable. The real cause of World War II was the failure of the Allied Powers, in particular France and Britain, to preserve the Versailles framework. If Germany had remained disarmed or if the Rhineland had remained demilitarized, and Czechoslovakia, on Germany’s southeastern border, had been kept strong, Hitler could never have advanced. Even though the Germans were unhappy with some of the provisions of the Treaty, another war pitting Germany against the Allies would have been impossible. With Which View Do You Agree? 5. When you have decided which view you most support, write a paragraph explaining your reasoning. A Question for Further Thought 6. What could the leaders who wrote the Treaty of Versailles have done to make it better, that is, to make sure it provided a basis for keeping European nations secure at peace with each other? 8