WHAT WERE KISSINGER’S VIEWS ON WORLD WAR I

AND ITS OUTCOME?

Erin Wright, Anisha Zaman, & Zach Pinz

Council of Vienna

Congress of Vienna The Congress of Vienna was accepted due

to terms that were just to each great power because they all believed in conservative unity and the Balance of Power.

The powers at the Congress of Vienna all had a common mindset and viewed France as a legitimate threat. They all wanted a peace of conciliation with France, a Balance of Power instated, and a shared sense of legitimacy.

France was given equal representation in the Balance of Power.

Treaty of Versailles

Treaty of Versailles The Treaty of Versailles had ideals that

conflicted with the incentives of each nation . The United States and Russia both backed down from the Allies in the end.

The Great Powers at the Paris Peace Conference were constantly diverted from their major goals of preventing future wars and international peace by several "sideshows." The United States and Great Britain promised to back France if Germany declared war on them again but neither were willing to commit to that promise because neither nation saw Germany as a great threat.

Unlike at the Congress of Vienna, the Paris Peace Conference did not include the defeated powers or Russia.

Expectations After the War

The British expected money/reparations from

the Germans because they felt that the Germans were

to blame for the war.

The French wanted safety from the Germans because they were afraid that they would seek revenge. They expected everyone to decrease the power of the German people.

Italy wanted land in the Balkans—went against

self-determination

America is focused on international war/peace protection because they believed that men are peaceful and

that democracy can bring international order

Germany was just hoping for the follow

through of the 14 Points but were quickly disappointed.

What were the 14 Points? United States President Woodrow Wilson gave a

speech 10 months prior to the armistice speaking of how he wished that all the countries would be able to come upon agreement without annexation or indemnities.

Some of his points dealt with: Territorial matters and barriers. The creation of the League of Nations. What they should be doing opposed to must be done.

Wilson had a revolutionary goal to create world piece but that meant sacrifice which the European nations were unwilling to do.

League of Nations The league of nations in the eyes of Woodrow

Wilson was to make sure world peace was maintained and if something were to occur they would settle it before it turned into a war.

In basic terms its sole purpose was to avoid another World War.

Germany was not permitted to join the League. Once the US realized that their main motives

were not as they had hoped they backed out and refused to join. America had an isolationist view and this did not

match with the League of Nations.

The Outcome

President Wilson of the United States of

America

Prime Minister Georges Benjamin Clemenceau of

France

David Lloyd George of Great Britain

Vittorio Orlando  of Italy

America did want to defend Treaty of Versailles by making

military commitments or alliances, instead relying on

public opinion, had no choice but to make alliance with France.

France did not get full protection from Germany; only occupation of

Rhineland and alliance with America and

Britain in future wars, punishment for

Germany was not considered harsh

enough

Italy did not receive the expected provinces.

British were forced to rely on America as an Ally, proposed League of Nations, giving up

Balance of Power.

Germany forced to pay reparations, give up land, and

go through disarmament . They were given no say in the

treaty.

Unlike the Congress of Vienna, in which all nations involved were directly

affected by the proposed solution, the Fourteen Points were proposed by the

United States, a nation not directly affected by its own propositions. The European nations present at the Paris Peace Conference could not agree to the settlement because none of them

could gain everything that they claimed at the end of the war in accordance to the Fourteen Points. European nations directly affected by the war, who had

ideas based on the idea of man's essential selfishness and the need to

discourage war, were not able to agree with the United States, which had ideas based on the idea that man is good and democracy will allow an international

peace.

Bibliography Kissinger, Henry. Diplomacy. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1995. (218-245)

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