WILSONS FOURTEEN POINTS AND THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES

World War I became a crusade in the U.S. It was considered to be the War to end all wars and the war to make the world safe for democracy. Wilson proposed Fourteen Points as the model for peace: The purpose of the model was to prevent further wars by eliminating the causes of war.

Some of the Fourteen Points were:

1. No secret treaties, treaties should be open and openly arrived at. 2. Freedom of the seas. 3. Removal of economic barriers such as tariffs. 4. Reduction of armaments. 5. Settle colonial claims. 6. Freedom for European national groups (have own nation/self-determination). 7. A League of Nations would be established (international political institution to solve political problems between nations through dialogue).

The Big Four dominated the Treaty of Versailles. The Big Four representatives were: Woodrow Wilson of the U.S. David Lloyd George of Great Britain. Clemenceau of France. Orlando of Italy. Other Big Four members (Italy, France, and Great Britain) did not go along with the Fourteen Points even though they pretended to. It was against their national interest. Germany and Russia were not represented at the Treaty of Versailles which made them bitter.

Conclusion of the The Treaty of Versailles :

1. Germany was to accept the blame for the war and pay reparations ($33 billion), and they could have no navy, air force, and a very small army. 2. Land was taken away from Germany, and all of her colonies were taken away. 3. New countries were created in Europe from territories that were taken away from Russia, Germany, and Austria-Hungary and these new countries included Finland, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia, and the Baltic States. 4. A mandate system was set up take care of former Turkish and German colonies: The Middle Eastern Turkish lands were given to Great Britain and France (this included among others present day Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Israel). 5. Great Britain received Germanys African colonies. Japan and the U.S. received many of the German islands in the Pacific. 6. The League of Nations was created.

Immediate results of the Treaty of Versailles:

Wilson had to give up all of his Fourteen Points to get the League of Nations as a part of the treaty. Germany, Italy, and the Soviet Union were extremely upset with the Treaty of Versailles.