Paper 2 reaction to Versailles settlement

Question 1

why were the big 3 not totally happy with the treaty

Answer 1

1 France Clemenceau was criticised because many thought the treaty was not harsh enough. He was voted out in 1920
2 Lloyd George was greeted as a hero but privately he feared Germany would retaliate in the future
3Wilson was the most disappointed as most of the 14 points were ignored or modified
4 His most important idea would be that League of Nations would resolve international disputes by peaceful methods but Us congress voted not to join

Question 2

What aspects of the treaty did Clemenceau like and dislike

Answer 2

liked military restrictions on Germany
reparation
disliked league of nations

Question 3

what aspects of the treaty did Lloyd George like and dislike

Answer 3

liked punishment of Germany
naval restrictions
restrictions on colonies
disliked - not enough recognition that Britain and Germany had to re establish trade links

Question 4

what aspects of the treaty did Wilson like and dislike

Answer 4

liked creation of league of nations
disliked reparation payments
failure to agree disarmament
failure to impliment self determination

Question 5

how did the treaty contribute to greater instability in Germany (4)

Answer 5

1 Almost all Germans hated the treaty
2 Weimer government was seen as weak for signing
3Germany’s failure to pay reparations in 1922 led to 5 5 France and Belgium invading led to high inflation
4 the chaos and weak government encouraged growth of extreme political parties - Nazis

Question 6

What were the strengths of the treaty seen at the time by victorious countries (4)

Answer 6

1 treaty brought peace to Europe after 4 years of fighting
2 League of nations set up to prevent further conflict - peace keeping organisation
3 terms of the treaty were not as harsh as they could have been eg Germany imposed much harsher on Russia
4 some wanted to split Germany into separate countries but it stayed as a democratic country to protect against communist expansion of russia

Question 7

what were the weaknesses of the treaty seen by defeated countries and later by all (4)

Answer 7

1 Germans felt bitter about unfair treatment - which extremist parties exploited
2 reparation repayments crippled the ecconomy
treaty punished Germany enough to want revenge but
3 not enough to stop it recovering and acting against allies in the future
4 Woodrow and Wilson placed to much faith in League of Nations.