History-Treaty of versailles Flashcards
Who where the big three?
Georges Clemenceau, the Prime Minister of France; David Lloyd George, Prime Minister of Britain; and American President Woodrow Wilson.
What was the role of the Big Three in the peace settlement at the end of the First World War?
The Big Three carried out the negotiations for the peace settlement at the end of the First World War
Why did the Big Three play such a leading role in the peace negotiations at the end of the First World War?
The Big Three played such a leading role in the negotiations for a peace settlement due to their influence as world leaders and the extent of their empires.
Where did the Big Three meet to discuss the peace settlement at the end of the First World War?
The Big Three met at the Paris Peace Conference which was held at Versailles, just outside Paris.
Why was the Big Three sometimes known as the ‘Big Four’?
Sometimes the leading politicians at the Paris Peace Conference were known as the ‘Big Four’, because they included Vittorio Emanuele Orlando, the prime minister of Italy. However, he left after a disagreement about the 1915 Treaty of London and Austrian land.
What was the significance of the Big Three at the peace settlement?
The Big Three were significant because of the following 2 reasons:
❖ They made all the decisions about the treatment of Germany and its allies. It was these agreements that concluded the war.
❖ The peace conference was dominated by the Big Three. Their decisions had many short and long term consequences for both Germany and the rest of Europe.
What job had Wilson held before becoming president and how did this influence him?
A professor at Princeton University.
This made him an idealist
What is an idealist?
A person who believes in ideals (rather than harsh reality).
What principles guided Wilson?
Those set out in his Fourteen Points
What where his 14 points?
- Open diplomacy without secret treaties
- Economic free trade on the seas during war and peace
- Equal trade conditions
- Decrease armaments among all nations
- Adjust colonial claims
- Evacuation of all Central Powers from Russia and allow it to define its own independence
- Belgium to be evacuated and restored
- Return of Alsace-Lorraine region and all French territories
- Readjust Italian borders
- Austria-Hungary to be provided an opportunity for self-determination
- Redraw the borders of the Balkan region creating Roumania, Serbia and Montenegro
- Creation of a Turkish state with guaranteed free trade in the Dardanelles
- Creation of an independent Polish state
- Creation of the League of Nations
What did Wilson believe about Germany?
That Germany should not be punished too harshly because when it grew strong again it would want revenge.
What did Wilson believe about democracy?
That democracy should be installed in defeated countries (e.g. Germany) as the people would not allow their leaders to take them to war again
What did Wilson want for people that had once been under imperial rule (e.g. Serbians, Croats)?
Self-determination e.g. he wanted Poles and Croats to rule themselves, not be ruled by Austria-Hungary
Why was Wilson more idealistic than Lloyd George and Clemenceau?
The USA suffered FAR few casualties than Britain and France.
Also, no fighting took place in the USA.
And they joined the war in 1917.
What did David Lloyd George want to do to Germany?
DLG wanted to punish Germany, but not too harshly.
