Treaty of Versailles Flashcards
When was the Treaty of Versailles signed?
28th June 1919
Insert the missing word of this phrase:
‘A __________ peace”
Compromise
What is meant by the term “a compromise peace”?
Getting your own way partially, but not completely.
Who made up the Big Three?
- David Lloyd-George (British prime minister)
- Georges Clemenceau (French President)
- Woodrow Wilson (President of the USA)
What was the main idea behind the Treaty of Versailles?
To prevent future wars.
Why was the Treaty of Versailles difficult to create with 3 people working on it?
Because each of the Big Three had different ideas as to how peace was to be achieved.
Where was the Treaty of Versailles signed?
The Hall of Mirrors, Palace of Versailles, Paris, France
What was Georges Clemenceau’s nickname?
“The Tiger”
Why was Georges Clemenceau’s nickname “The Tiger”?
Because he was a fierce character who wanted the harshest outcome of the Treaty of Versailles upon Germany.
How did Clemenceau want to weaken Germany?
- Take away German territory
- Weaken German industry
- Reducing Germany’s armed forces
Why did Clemenceau want to punish Germany and have revenge on them?
Because of the suffering inflicted upon the people of France during the war, as most of the fighting took place in North Eastern France.
What did Clemenceau want Germany to remain as?
Forever weak
Why did Clemenceau want Germany to remain forever weak?
In order to prevent them from ever invading France again.
What was the name of the Italian leader that also played a part in the negotiations of the Treaty of Versailles?
Vittorio Orlando.
Why were Georges Clemenceau, David Lloyd-George and Woodrow Wilson nicknamed “The Big Three”?
Because they were the 3 major powers in the world at the time.
What political party did David Lloyd-George stand for?
The Liberal party.
When else (before the first world war) did Germany invade France?
During the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-1871
What was Woodrow Wilson?
An idealist.
What did Wilson want from the negotiations of the Treaty of Versailles?
A perfect solution
What did Wilson hope that WW1 would be?
The war to end all wars.
What did Wilson want the world to be safe for?
He wanted the world to be safe for democracy.
What is meant by the term ‘idealist’?
Wanting perfect peace leading to a perfect world.
a) What kind of view was Woodrow Wilson able to take during the negotiations of the Treaty of Versailles?
b) Why was this?
a) A detached/unbiased view.
b) Because the USA had not entered the war until 1917.
True or False?
Wilson wanted a fair and lasting peace.
True.
What did Wilson want to happen to Germany through the Treaty of Versailles?
He realised that German aggression had to be punished, and he wanted to prevent Germany from becoming aggressive again, so he did not want Germany to have to pay heavy compensation/reparation.
What did Wilson want the Treaty of Versailles to be based upon?
His ‘14 Points for Peace’.
What was the most important part of Wilson’s ‘14 Points for Peace’?
Self-determination
What is meant by the term ‘self-determination’?
People of different national groups ruling themselves and not being ruled by a foreign power (e.g. Britain)
Leading up to a General Election, what did David Lloyd-George promise the British people he would do?
“Squeeze the German lemon until the pips squeak”.
What two things did Britain want to do? (bonus points for a third)
- ‘Hang the Kaiser’
- ‘Make Germany pay’
- ‘Search their pockets for the uttermost tuppence’
What did Lloyd-George feel he had to do in order to win the election?
He had to do what the public wanted, which was to be very harsh upon Germany. The public wanted to hear ‘tough talk’ and assurance that Germany would be punished. He knew he couldn’t win the election by being soft on Germany.
What did Lloyd-George really see Germany as?
A valuable trading partner.
What is another term for communism?
Bolshevism
What did Lloyd-George want through the Treaty of Versailles? (6 things)
- To prevent Germany from becoming so weak that a revival of trade and industry was hindered
- To prevent Germany from becoming so poor that it would turn to communism
- To avoid Germany being humiliated, so that Germans would not want revenge
- To see France secure from threat of German invasion, but Lloyd-George did not wish to see France from becoming too powerful and so able to dominate Europe
- An end to the German threat to the British navy and empire
- To make Germany a non-aggressive country without colonies.
True or False?
The British Royal Navy was (at the time) the largest in the world.
True.
Give two things that would happen to the people of Germany if it turned to communism/bolshevism.
- No freedom of speech
- No private property
What is meant by ‘revival of trade’?
Trade would grow again/start up again
Why was the Treaty of Versailles a compromise peace?
- None of the Big Three got entirely what they wanted (they had to compromise)
- Some parts of the Treaty they were satisfied with
- Some parts of the Treaty they were dissatisfied with
- The Treaty of Versailles was the best deal they could make with each other
In the Military terms of the Treaty of Versailles, what was stated about the size of the German army?
The army was to be no bigger than 100,000 men.
In the Military terms of the Treaty of Versailles, what could the German army no longer be?
A conscription army.
In the Military terms of the Treaty of Versailles, was there to be no usage of for the German army?
No military aircraft, tanks, submarines, or heavy artillery.
a) In the Military terms of the Treaty of Versailles, where were no troops allowed to be stationed?
b) What term can be used to describe this?
a) In the Rhineland
b) Demilitarised
In the Military terms of the Treaty of Versailles, what were the restrictions placed upon the German navy?
Allowed up to 6 battleships only and no more than 10,000 sailors.
Why were the Military terms of the Treaty of Versailles so restrictive?
To prevent Germany from becoming an aggressive country