Wilson's plans for the postwar world League of Nations

1. Global Peacemaker
CH. 12.5: PP. 437-441

2. Wilson throws out the
ceremonial 1st pitch at the
Washington Senators
home opener in April of
1916

3. 12.5: Global Peacemaker
NOTES
a.What were the key components of Wilson’s Fourteen
Points?
b.How did Wilson’s post-war plans conflict w/ those of
Great Britain & France?
c.Why do you think many Americans opposed the
Versailles Treaty?
d.It is often said that Woodrow Wilson won World War
I, but then “lost the peace.” Explain your
understanding of this statement.

4. Fourteen Points
Wilson’s Plan to make the world “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”.
http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/wilson-points.htm

5. Wilson’s Proposal
Fourteen Points—Introduced to Congress in January
of 1918
 Diplomacy over aggression
 Maintaining peace
 Self-determination

6. Paris Peace Conference
January of 1919
U.S. delegation=President Wilson & all Democrats,
but one Republican
Big Four:
 1. David Lloyd George=Great Britain
 2. Georges Clemenceau=France
 3. Vittorio Orlando=Italy
 4. Woodrow Wilson=U.S.
 *see picture on p. 438

8. Paris Peace Conference
Russia was absent; in midst of civil war
Germany was not invited
Clemenceau, George & Orlando hoped to make
Central Powers pay for causing the war
Wilson hoped to make peace & secure stability
Wilson was forced to compromise on his 14 Points;
esp. on self-determination
 Allies hoped to continue to build empires

9. League of Nations
Proposed by Wilson
Nations of the world would join together to ensure
security & peace for all members
Introduced at Paris Peace, but had to be approved by
Republican-controlled Congress
Article 10—An attack on one member would be
considered an attack on all members
Rejected by Congress

11. This cartoon shows one
view of Wilson & the
LON. Note that Wilson
is dipping his bubble
pipe into a bowl of
“ideals.”
Why did some criticize
the LON as being too
idealistic?

12. Versailles Treaty
Peace talks resumed in March of 1919
Clemenceau demanded harsh penalties for Germany
Wilson feared harsh demands would lead to future
wars
9 new territories created out of Austria-Hungary,
Germany, & Russia
 Compare map on p. 415 to map on p. 440
New boundaries did not support Wilson’s self-determination;
ethnic tensions continued

13. 1914
1919

14. Versailles Treaty
The Ottoman Empire was shrunk into Turkey
British took control of Palestine, Transjordan, &
Israel
France took control of Syria & Lebanon
Italy gained less territory than it hoped for; b/c of
this Orlando had to resign as prime minister

15. Versailles Treaty
Germany initially refused to sign it; but gave in when
France threatened to attack
Signed/finalized on June 28, 1919

16. The signing of the
Treaty of Versailles in
the Hall of Mirrors

17. Reactions to Versailles Treaty
Much negative response to League of Nations
Wilson toured U.S. in hopes of gaining popular
support for LON
After he suffered a stroke; he remained isolated from
his Cabinet for the rest of his term
 Wife, Edith, took over many duties
Congress rejected the LON & the Versailles Treaty
 Opposition led by Republican Henry Cabot Lodge

18. What is happening to
Uncle Sam?
What message do you
think the author is
trying to convey?

20. Edith & Woodrow
Wilson in 1920
Edith holds the paper
steady b/c her
husband’s left side had
been paralyzed.

21. Peace w/ Germany
President Harding signed a resolution to end war
with Germany in 1921
Made treaties with Austria and Hungary in 1921

22. America as Creditor
U.S. became a bank for the world
War hurt economies of many European nations,
especially Britain
US had an opportunity to take control of the
economics in the world, but focused on domestic
issues

23. Servicemen Are Coming Back
4,000 a day were being released from service
What to do with them? No plan!
Jobs were scarce
Women moved back to work in the home
Black soldiers treated poorly upon return
Feeling of gloom in US after WWI

25. 12.5: Global Peacemaker
NOTES
a.What were the key components of Wilson’s Fourteen
Points?
b.How did Wilson’s post-war plans conflict w/ those of
Great Britain & France?
c.Why do you think many Americans opposed the
Versailles Treaty?
d.It is often said that Woodrow Wilson won World War
I, but then “lost the peace.” Explain your
understanding of this statement.