Woodrow Wilson Treaty Of Versailles Essay
How important was Woodrow Wilson in determining the terms of the treaty of Versailles?
Woodrow Wilson was part of the big 3. The big three was made up of the Wilson (USA), Clemenceau (France), and Lloyd George (Britain¬) and they were who dominated the January 1919 peace conference held in Paris. As Wilson was a very religious man, his aim was simply to create peace; he was trying to create a treaty that would be the end of all wars. However he noticed that his allies would have preferred the terms of the treaty if they specifically benefited their nations, and punished Germany.
To get Wilsons views heard was always going to be difficult. “England and France have not the same views with respect to peace that we have by any means” Although both Lloyd George and Clemenceau have different views to each …show more content…
other they agreed that Wilsons views were far too soft, and did not punish Germany enough. However Clemenceau and Lloyd George 9especially Clemenceau) would have wanted revenge more than Wilson for they had been fighting for a longer period of time. “The worst fighting took place in France. During four and a half years of savage warfare, an area larger than Wales was totally ruined.” Says historian Josh Brooman, in 1985. And Lloyd George was eager to please his country for the people of Britain wanted to punish germany. “in December 1918 his (Lloyd George) government won a massive election victory by promising to ‘squeeze the German lemon till the pips squeak’. The british blamed the germans for the war and wanted to make them pay; some even suggested that the Kaiser should be hanged” this made Wilson very different to them, his unselfish demands were not liked by the rest of the big 3.
Wilson had also previously introduced his 14 points, which he thought would create and maintain peace he explained “It is the principle to all people and all nationalities, whether they be strong or weak. Without this principle there can be no international justice”. Wilson was able to persuade the allies to use 4 out of the 14 points. His allies Lloyd George and Clemenceau both agreed that they didn’t like the 14 points, on the 29th of October 1918, when the war was virtually over Lloyd George and Clemenceau met, and discussed their views on the 14 points. Lloyd George told Clemenceau that “we cannot accept the second point under any condition; it means the power blockade goes” as both Clemenceau and Lloyd George both were against many points making it difficult for Wilson to get his point of view heard, making his views seem very insignificant. Wilsons 14 points in the end seemed pointless, the only points chosen to be put in the treaty only benefitted Wilson’s allies or punished Germany even further.
The points that in some ways would not benefit the allies were left out, such as general disarmament or free movement of ships anywhere in the world. So the points used didn’t cause peace but made Germany more angry and more likely eager for revenge for Germany thought that the treaty would be based on the 14 points proven by the German president Ebert in may 1919 “the German people... trusted the promise given by the allies that the peace would be a peace of right on the basis of president Wilsons 14 points”. this means that Germany was shocked at the mass of punishments that they had to agree to therefore making them more angry. Alsace Lorraine was always going to be returned to France whether it would be in the treaty did not matter to Clemenceau, so it wasn’t surprising when Clemenceau agreed with Wilson on this point. Wilson 14 points didn’t create peace, and disappointed the people of Germany, who thought the treaty, would be like his 14 points, only to create peace, and it wouldn’t be too
harsh.
Another aim and one of his 14 points was to set up a league of nations, hoping to prevent another war by allowing people to deal with disputes and issues in a non-violent matter. After having persuaded both Lloyd George and Clemenceau he was very happy thinking that they had finally made some progress. “This is our first real step forward. For now I realise more than ever before, that once established, the league can arbitrate and correct the mistakes which are in the treaty” in this note to his wife, it shows that Wilson is very happy that he was able to persuade the other allies, when he most likely thought that they would not agree, he seems to be the least dominant out of the big 3. However it was left almost partially complete, as they would not allow Germany or Russia join until a later date. Also even though Wilson was American he would not join, hoping that he could set up the group and let them solve problems without needing America to interfere again.
Wilson was frequently overruled by both Lloyd George and Clemenceau, and in one case which Wilson detested was agreeing to the war guilt clause .the war guilt clause was created by Lloyd George for he wanted to please his people as they were all very bitter towards germany and thought that they were to blame for the war. He agreeing to this shows that he had less power compared to L and C, however L was able to persuade Clemenceau to agree to the league of nations, which was one of Wilsons main hope to create. However Wilson never wanted to make Germany pay, he had a less harsh attitude towards Germany, and knowing that by blaming Germany for the war would be to justify the repartitions.
Wilson let the people know what he wanted from this treaty, peace and to be the treaty that will end all wars. He didn’t want to create a too harsh treaty, for he didn’t want to anger Germany, as that could cause another war. His 14 points might have been successful if they were all used and all countries co-operated, however only a few were achieved. If Wilson had been more dominant then there would be a higher chance that the treaty would be less harsh. Wilson was easily overruled by the other two, for example agreeing to the war guilt clause. Out of the big three, Wilsons views were seen as insignificant, he had little say on the terms, but even though he was unhappy, he accepted the treaty for he thought that problems caused by the treaty could be dealt with on a later date, he hoped they would use the league of nations to solve the issues. He explained to his wife “well, it’s finished , and no-one is satisfied, it makes me feel we have a just peace, but it is all in the lap of the gods.” Even though everyone was unhappy with the treaty, Wilson was most likely the most frustrated. If Wilson were not there the treaty may have been much harsher due to Wilsons insistence on making it not too harsh. Wilson wanted peace and a softer treaty, both llord George and especially Clemenceau prefferered if the treaty was more of a punishment, with benefits to their nation, and as the treaty of versaille is universally known as being harsh and to some people unjust, it seems quite clear that Wilson had very little say on what the terms of the treaty were and therefore he was not very important when determining the terms of the treaty.
Woodrow Wilson was part of the big 3. The big three was made up of the Wilson (USA), Clemenceau (France), and Lloyd George (Britain¬) and they were who dominated the January 1919 peace conference held in Paris. As Wilson was a very religious man, his aim was simply to create peace; he was trying to create a treaty that would be the end of all wars. However he noticed that his allies would have preferred the terms of the treaty if they specifically benefited their nations, and punished Germany.
To get Wilsons views heard was always going to be difficult. “England and France have not the same views with respect to peace that we have by any means” Although both Lloyd George and Clemenceau have different views to each …show more content…
other they agreed that Wilsons views were far too soft, and did not punish Germany enough. However Clemenceau and Lloyd George 9especially Clemenceau) would have wanted revenge more than Wilson for they had been fighting for a longer period of time. “The worst fighting took place in France. During four and a half years of savage warfare, an area larger than Wales was totally ruined.” Says historian Josh Brooman, in 1985. And Lloyd George was eager to please his country for the people of Britain wanted to punish germany. “in December 1918 his (Lloyd George) government won a massive election victory by promising to ‘squeeze the German lemon till the pips squeak’. The british blamed the germans for the war and wanted to make them pay; some even suggested that the Kaiser should be hanged” this made Wilson very different to them, his unselfish demands were not liked by the rest of the big 3.
Wilson had also previously introduced his 14 points, which he thought would create and maintain peace he explained “It is the principle to all people and all nationalities, whether they be strong or weak. Without this principle there can be no international justice”. Wilson was able to persuade the allies to use 4 out of the 14 points. His allies Lloyd George and Clemenceau both agreed that they didn’t like the 14 points, on the 29th of October 1918, when the war was virtually over Lloyd George and Clemenceau met, and discussed their views on the 14 points. Lloyd George told Clemenceau that “we cannot accept the second point under any condition; it means the power blockade goes” as both Clemenceau and Lloyd George both were against many points making it difficult for Wilson to get his point of view heard, making his views seem very insignificant. Wilsons 14 points in the end seemed pointless, the only points chosen to be put in the treaty only benefitted Wilson’s allies or punished Germany even further.
The points that in some ways would not benefit the allies were left out, such as general disarmament or free movement of ships anywhere in the world. So the points used didn’t cause peace but made Germany more angry and more likely eager for revenge for Germany thought that the treaty would be based on the 14 points proven by the German president Ebert in may 1919 “the German people... trusted the promise given by the allies that the peace would be a peace of right on the basis of president Wilsons 14 points”. this means that Germany was shocked at the mass of punishments that they had to agree to therefore making them more angry. Alsace Lorraine was always going to be returned to France whether it would be in the treaty did not matter to Clemenceau, so it wasn’t surprising when Clemenceau agreed with Wilson on this point. Wilson 14 points didn’t create peace, and disappointed the people of Germany, who thought the treaty, would be like his 14 points, only to create peace, and it wouldn’t be too
harsh.
Another aim and one of his 14 points was to set up a league of nations, hoping to prevent another war by allowing people to deal with disputes and issues in a non-violent matter. After having persuaded both Lloyd George and Clemenceau he was very happy thinking that they had finally made some progress. “This is our first real step forward. For now I realise more than ever before, that once established, the league can arbitrate and correct the mistakes which are in the treaty” in this note to his wife, it shows that Wilson is very happy that he was able to persuade the other allies, when he most likely thought that they would not agree, he seems to be the least dominant out of the big 3. However it was left almost partially complete, as they would not allow Germany or Russia join until a later date. Also even though Wilson was American he would not join, hoping that he could set up the group and let them solve problems without needing America to interfere again.
Wilson was frequently overruled by both Lloyd George and Clemenceau, and in one case which Wilson detested was agreeing to the war guilt clause .the war guilt clause was created by Lloyd George for he wanted to please his people as they were all very bitter towards germany and thought that they were to blame for the war. He agreeing to this shows that he had less power compared to L and C, however L was able to persuade Clemenceau to agree to the league of nations, which was one of Wilsons main hope to create. However Wilson never wanted to make Germany pay, he had a less harsh attitude towards Germany, and knowing that by blaming Germany for the war would be to justify the repartitions.
Wilson let the people know what he wanted from this treaty, peace and to be the treaty that will end all wars. He didn’t want to create a too harsh treaty, for he didn’t want to anger Germany, as that could cause another war. His 14 points might have been successful if they were all used and all countries co-operated, however only a few were achieved. If Wilson had been more dominant then there would be a higher chance that the treaty would be less harsh. Wilson was easily overruled by the other two, for example agreeing to the war guilt clause. Out of the big three, Wilsons views were seen as insignificant, he had little say on the terms, but even though he was unhappy, he accepted the treaty for he thought that problems caused by the treaty could be dealt with on a later date, he hoped they would use the league of nations to solve the issues. He explained to his wife “well, it’s finished , and no-one is satisfied, it makes me feel we have a just peace, but it is all in the lap of the gods.” Even though everyone was unhappy with the treaty, Wilson was most likely the most frustrated. If Wilson were not there the treaty may have been much harsher due to Wilsons insistence on making it not too harsh. Wilson wanted peace and a softer treaty, both llord George and especially Clemenceau prefferered if the treaty was more of a punishment, with benefits to their nation, and as the treaty of versaille is universally known as being harsh and to some people unjust, it seems quite clear that Wilson had very little say on what the terms of the treaty were and therefore he was not very important when determining the terms of the treaty.