Chapter 27 – World War I and Its Aftermath

Section 5 – Making the Peace

Setting the Scene

Just weeks after the Great War ended, President Wilson boarded a steamship bound for France. He had decided to go in person to Paris, where

Allied leaders would make the peace. Wilson was certain that he could solve the problems of old

Europe. "Tell me what is right," Wilson urged his advisers, "and I'll fight for it."

Sadly, it would not be that easy. Europe was a shattered continent. Its problems, and those of

the world, would not be solved at the Paris Peace Conference, or for many years afterward.

I. The Costs of WarMore than 8.5 million people were dead and over 21 million had been wounded

Let us use arithmetic for World War I –

9,000,000 dead young men equal 1,350,000,000 pounds of bone and flesh 27,900,000 pounds of brain matter 11,250,000 gallons of blood 414,000,000 years of life that will never be lived 22,500,000 children who will never be born

The dry if imposing figure "9,000,000 dead" seems a little less statistical when we view it from this perspective.

Dalton Trumbo, author of Johnny Got His Gun

I. The Costs of WarThe devastation was made worse in 1918 by the influenza pandemic, which killed more than 20 million

I. The Costs of WarThe costs of rebuilding and paying off war debts were huge, and famine threatened many regions

Ypres, France

I. The Costs of WarGovernments collapsed in Russia, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman empire

I. The Costs of WarPolitical radicals dreamed of building a new social order, while Conservatives feared that communism would spread

I. The Costs of WarImperial rule was not ended and unrest swept through Europe's colonies, who had hoped for independence

II. The Paris Peace ConferenceWoodrow Wilson’s talk of self-determination and democracy raised hopes for a just and lasting peace

Paris crowds greet President Wilson (1919)

II. The Paris Peace ConferenceWilson urged "peace without victory," and wanted the Fourteen Points to be the basis of the peace

Representatives at the Paris Peace Conference included, left to right, British prime minister Lloyd George, Italian foreign minister Giorgio Sonnino, French premier Georges Clemenceau, and U.S. president Woodrow Wilson

II. The Paris Peace ConferenceBritish PM David Lloyd George demanded harsh treatment for Germany and to make them pay for the war

II. The Paris Peace ConferenceFrench leader Georges Clemenceau wanted to weaken Germany so it could never threaten France again

III. The Treaty of VersaillesIn June 1919 at Versailles, the Germans were ordered to sign the treaty drawn up by the Allies

III. The Treaty of VersaillesGermany was forced to assume full blame for causing the war and pay reparations totaling over $30 billion

III. The Treaty of VersaillesThe treaty limited the size of the German military, returned Alsace and Lorraine to France, and stripped Germany of its colonies

Lady Germania chained to a torture pole. German political picture, June 1919.

III. The Treaty of VersaillesGermany resented the terms of the Treaty but signed because they had no other choice

From a book produced in Germany during the 1930s

III. The Treaty of VersaillesNew nations included the Baltic states, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Yugoslavia, and Poland regained independence

III. The Treaty of VersaillesMandates were created - territories to be administered by western powers until they were able to "stand alone"

League of Nations Mandates - Middle East & Africa

II. The Paris Peace ConferenceWilson had to compromise on his Fourteen Points, but his goal of a League of Nations to preserve peace became a reality

III. The Treaty of VersaillesMore than 40 nations joined the League of Nations, agreeing to negotiate disputes rather than resort to war