End of WWI
On November 11, 1918, Germany surrendered and the armistice (the stoppage of fighting) was signed, officially ending World War I. The BIG FOUR (ALLIES) designed the peace treaty, but could not come to a compromise. France wanted complete humiliation of Germany to get back at them for the destruction to their country. The United States on the other hand sought “peace without victory”—they wanted to end the war, but not punish the loser.
President Woodrow Wilson’s ideas were know as the Fourteen Points. In these he promoted openness, encouraged independence, and supported freedom. Wilson advocated self-determination, or the right of people to choose their own form of government. He also advocated ‘no blame’ in which no one nation was accused of starting the war and ‘no reparations’ to be paid by the losing countries. Finally, he asked for a League of Nations, a world organization where counties could gather and peacefully resolve their quarrels.
In 1919, the victorious Allies held a peace conference in France and created the Treaty of Versailles. Although Wilson’s hope for the League of Nations was fulfilled, the components making up the peace treaty created almost as many problems as it had solved. The other Allied leaders insisted Germany make reparations, or payment for war damages; Germany was forced to pay 269 BILLION dollars. When the map of Europe was redrawn, national self-determination was violated many times because it grouped together enemies and divided peaceful peoples.
In the United States, many people opposed the treaty. A handful of senators known as ‘irreconcilables’ believed that the United States should not get entangled in world organizations such as the League of Nations that it would drag them into more conflict with Europe. Wilson and his opponents refused to put aside their differences and compromise with them, so the Senate did not ratify the treaty. Without full American support, the League of Nations proved unable to maintain peace among nations
Answer the following questions:
- How did France’s ideas differ from the U.S. when they met to design the treaty?
- Describe the aims of Wilson’s “Fourteen Points.”
- Prediction: Why do you think Wilson wanted these things to be a part of the treaty?
- What did they decide with the Treaty of Versailles?
- Who are the “irreconcilables’ and what did they believe? How does this to Wilson’s Treaty?
End of WWI
On November 11, 1918, Germany surrendered and the armistice (the stoppage of fighting) was signed, officially ending World War I. The BIG FOUR (ALLIES) designed the peace treaty, but could not come to a compromise. France wanted complete humiliation of Germany to get back at them for the destruction to their country. The United States on the other hand sought “peace without victory”—they wanted to end the war, but not punish the loser.
President Woodrow Wilson’s ideas were know as the Fourteen Points. In these he promoted openness, encouraged independence, and supported freedom. Wilson advocated self-determination, or the right of people to choose their own form of government. He also advocated ‘no blame’ in which no one nation was accused of starting the war and ‘no reparations’ to be paid by the losing countries. Finally, he asked for a League of Nations, a world organization where counties could gather and peacefully resolve their quarrels.
In 1919, the victorious Allies held a peace conference in France and created the Treaty of Versailles. Although Wilson’s hope for the League of Nations was fulfilled, the components making up the peace treaty created almost as many problems as it had solved. The other Allied leaders insisted Germany make reparations, or payment for war damages; Germany was forced to pay 269 BILLION dollars. When the map of Europe was redrawn, national self-determination was violated many times because it grouped together enemies and divided peaceful peoples.
In the United States, many people opposed the treaty. A handful of senators known as ‘irreconcilables’ believed that the United States should not get entangled in world organizations such as the League of Nations that it would drag them into more conflict with Europe. Wilson and his opponents refused to put aside their differences and compromise with them, so the Senate did not ratify the treaty. Without full American support, the League of Nations proved unable to maintain peace among nations
Answer the following questions:
- How did France’s ideas differ from the U.S. when they met to design the treaty?
- Describe the aims of Wilson’s “Fourteen Points.”
- Prediction: Why do you think Wilson wanted these things to be a part of the treaty?
- What did they decide with the Treaty of Versailles?
- Who are the “irreconcilables’ and what did they believe? How does this to Wilson’s Treaty?
- According to the chart, which type of weapon caused the most casualties?
- Inference: Why did both sides embrace trench warfare as a strategy to win the war?
- The use of poison gas was outlawed internationally after the war. Why would countries gather specifically to do this?
- What is the advantage of using a submarine over a battleship?
- Opinion: Which weapon impacted the way wars are fought the most? Defend your viewpoint.
- Why do you think American casualties were relatively few compared with the casualties of the other combatants (participants)?