Treaty of Versailles Simulation

BackgroundOn June 28, 1919,

the BIG 4 met in Versailles, France, to talk about the end of the Great War.

Why might the men have different takes on who should be blamed (and how they should be punished)?History, home turf

The Big Four

Woodrow Wilson (US)

Clemenceau

(France)

David Lloyd George (Britain)

Vittorio Orlando (Italy)

Who's Missing? Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungary

The number you receive corresponds to the role you’ll play in the simulation. 1 – Britain2 – US3 - France

Then, you’ll need to find a meeting with the other two nations that aren’t you.

As a group, you’ll negotiate and decide terms with your sheet to end the war.

At the end, we’ll see what sort of treaty the class has written collectively.

Treaty of Versailles Simulation

Wilson’s 14 Points: A Plan for Peace

1. Open Diplomacy2. Freedom of Seas3. Removal of Trade

Barriers4. Reduction of

Armaments5. Impartial Adjustment

of Colonial Claims6. Evacuation of Russia7. Evacuation and

Restoration of Belgium8. Evacuation of all

French Lands, return of Alsace-Lorraine

9. Readjustment of Italy’s Frontiers

10. Self Determination for the former subjects of the Austrian Hungary Empire

11. Evacuation of Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, free access to the sea for Serbia

12. National Self Determination

13. Polish access to the sea14. A League of Nations

Response to 14 PointsAllies demands

England“war guilt” clause –

Germany responsible for everything

FranceTerritorial concessions

and reparations – return control of Alsace-Lorraine region

Response at Home Wilson’s Domestic

Strength DeclinesProgressive policy

unravelingInflation & control of

the economy Republican Congress

Negotiations in Paris “the Big Four”

The Big Four

League of NationsWilson’s ‘Brainchild’Article X

Pledged members to consult on military and economic sanctions against aggressors

Use of arms a last resort

Organization of League Assembly gave every

member an equal voice Council made up of Big 5 Permanent Court of

International Justice (World Court)

Henry Cabot Lodge Republican opposition

Meeting of League, 1920

Negotiations in EuropePunishments for Germany1. Country not allowed to maintain

army.

2. Returned Alsace-Lorraine region to France

3. Paid $33 billion in reparations (war damages) to Allies.

4. War-guilt clause: Germany entirely responsible for war.

Germany initially refused to sign because the treaty did not follow the 14 Points

Self Determination Impossible to make

boundaries correspond to ethnic divisions

Austro-Hungarian empire carved up between Poland, Italy, Romania, and parts became Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia

Europe, 1918

Treaty's Effect on Germany1. Country not allowed

to maintain army.2. Returned Alsace-

Lorraine region to France

3. Paid $33 billion in reparations (war damages) to Allies.

4. War-guilt clause: Germany entirely responsible for war.

Alsace-Lorraine Region, France

Wilson’s Final FightOpposition in Senate

IrreconcilablesRefused to allow US to join

League under any circumstances (thought domestic reforms would be threatened)

ReservationistsWanted to limit US

participation in the League

Wilson’s Plea to Americans Speaking tour stroke

Treaty of Versailles rejected by the Senate

Joint Resolutions ended the state of war on October 18, 1921 (under President Harding)

Treaty's WeaknessesHumiliating

treatment of Germany kept treaty from ensuring peace.

Impossible for Germany to pay reparations, other nations also responsible for war.Fueled WWII

Ignored political rights of colonized people.

1937- Members of the Reichstag saluting Adolf Hitler after his denunciation of war-

guilt clause

Treaty's Continued Effect on Germany…http://

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/8029948/First-World-War-officially-ends.html