Woodrow Wilson Fights for Peace

1. What was Wilson's 14th Point?
Wilson's plan for world peace. The first five points of his speech to promote world peace was:
-there should be no secret treaties among nations
-freedom of the seas should be maintained for all
-tariffs and other economic barriers among nations should be lowered or abolished in order to foster free trade
-arms should be reduced "to the lowest point consistent with domestic safety, thus lessening the possibility of military responses." during diplomatic crises.
-colonial policies should consider the interests of the colonials peoples as well as the interests of the imperialist powers.

The next eight points dealt with boundary changes. Groups that claimed distinctive ethnic identities were to form their own nation-states or decided for themselves as to what nation they belong to. The fourteenth point called for the creation of an international organization to address diplomatic crises like those that have sparked the war.

2. What terms of the treaty specifically affected Germany?
The treated barred Germany from maintaining an army. It also required Germany to return the region of Alsace-Lorraine to France and to pay reparations or war damages to the allies costing them 33 billion dollars.

3. What were the weaknesses of the treaty?
The weaknesses of the treaty were that it didn't provide a lasting peace in Europe since the treatment of Germany was not so great. The treaty humiliated Germany, it contained a war-guilt clause forcing Germany to admit sole responsibility for the War. Germany was stripped of its colonial possessions in the Pacific. Germany also did not have the money to pay back the reparations.

4. Why did Henry Cabot Lodge object to the treaty?
Henry Cabot Lodge objected to the treaty because he believed that the League threatened the U.S. foreign policy of isolationism. He was also very suspicious of the provision for joint economic and military action against aggression. He like many others wanted the constitutional right of Congress to declare war included in the treaty.

5. How did Wilson help bring about the Senate's rejection of the treaty?
Wilson set out on an 8000 mile tour. He delivered 34 speeches in about 3 weeks arguing that the United States should join the League of Nations.

6. What circumstances at this time would eventually lead many Germans to support Adolf Hitler?
After the treaty of Versailles Germany was humiliated, and many Europeans still longed to fight. Adolf Hitler in his writing showed a lot of desire vengeance against America for making Germany take the blame for World War 1. This of course caught the attention of many Germans and lead them to support him.

7. Who is George Clemenceau?
The French premier that had lived through two German invasions in France and was determined to prevent further invasions.

8. Who is David Lloyd George?
British prime minister who was known for his slogan "Make Germany Pay!" He wanted control of Austrian-held territory.

9. Describe the participation of Russia at the peace conference.
Russia was excluded from the peace conference so they weren't able to express their opinions about the treaty. This hurt them because they lost a lot of land which made them vengeful also.