Peacemakers

• President Wilson


  • Wanted a fair settlement based on his Fourteen Points
  • Wanted a settlement that allowed for the development of a more peaceful world
• Fourteen Points


  • Self-determination: the principle that nationalities should be able to rule themselves
  • Disarmament for all countries
  • A League of Nations to ensure peace in the future
• Wilson was seen as an idealist - seeing hope for the future and ignoring some of the harsh realities of the time
• Wilson


  Wanted to be fair towards Germany to help keep peace in Europe
• Clemenceau


  • Wanted a harsh settlement that would cripple Germany
  • Twice in his life he had seen France invaded by Germany
  • Two-thirds of French soldiers who fought in 1914-18 had been either killed or injured
• Clemenceau's views reflected French public opinion
• Lloyd George


  • Knew that British public opinion was hostile to Germany
  • Had just won a general election promising to 'make Germany pay'
  • Wanted to see Germany punished, but not to an extent that would cause revenge
  • Wanted things that would help Britain, for example for Germany to lose its colonies and its navy because they threatened the British Empire
• Versailles Treaty


  Treaty signed in June 1919 by German representatives who were forced to sign it
• German representatives were forced to sign the treaty in June 1919
• Chapter 5 deals with conflict and the consequences of how to manage Germany
• Details of the treaty were made public in May 1919, and Germans were appalled
• Germans complained the treaty was very harsh