Renewed Isolationism After WW1

Question 1

Paris Peace Conference Aims (Britain, France, US)

Answer 1

US:
- Wilson’s ‘Fourteen Points’: create fair peace based on peoples self-determination
- League of Nations: resolve international arguments w/o war
Britain:
- Public wanted to ‘make Germany pay’, George wanted to punish Germany but not as harshly as France did
- Germany was an important trading partner to the UK
- Main goal to reduce German navy, lose their overseas empire
France:
- Wanted to punish Germany harshly
- Wanted the return of Alsace-Lorraine which they lost to Germany
- Wanted Germany to pay for damages

Question 2

The Treaty of Versailles

Answer 2

• League of Nations: resolve future international disputes w/o war
• Germany and Russia weren’t allowed to join LoN
• US didn’t join due to returning to isolationism despite it being Wilson’s idea
• Territorial Losses: Germany had to return Alsace-Lorraine to France
• ‘Polish Corridor’ established, split Germany to give Poland access to the sea
• Germany forbidden from having future union with Austria and having an overseas empire
• Military Restrictions: Germany army limited to 100,000 men, banned from possessing tanks, aeroplanes and submarines
• War Guilt: Germany had to accept sole responsibility for the war and pay £6,600 million in reparations to the allies for damage

Question 3

Wilson’s Fourteen Points and the League of Nation

Answer 3

• Point 1: Diplomacy
• Point 2: Freedom of the Seas
• Point 3: Free Trade
• Point 4: Disarmament
• Point 5: Fair Voting System, resolve colonial disputes
• Points 6-13: Rights of People to Self-Determination
• Point 14: League of Nations
• First 5 points to maintain orderly relations
• League of Nations: An international organisation for peacekeeping and mutual cooperation

Question 4

US Rejection of the League of Nations

Answer 4

• Sept 1919: Wilson decided to tour the US to win support for the League, went against doctors orders
• Exhausting tour, gave 37 speeches in 2 days
• 25th Sept 1920: Wilson collapsed after a speech in Colorado
• Stroke effectively ended his campaign
• Wilson’s wife, Edith Wilson, said to have become the first unofficial President was she helped her husband in carrying on his duties
• Wilson refused to compromise
• Senator Lodge introduced a compromise bill which Wilson told Democrats to oppose, failed by 53 to 38 votes
• Mar 1920: Passed by 49 to 35 votes, seven short of 2/3 majority