What were the motives and aims of the Big Three at Versailles? Flashcards
Who was Woodrow Wilson?
- President of the USA
- Born in 1856
- An idealist and reformer
- As president he had campaigned against corruption in politics and business
- However, he had a poor record with regard to the rights of African Americans
- He was obstinate (stubborn). Once he made his mind up on an issue he was almost impossible to shift
What was Woodrow Wilson’s attitude towards Germany?
Don’t be too harsh on Germany:
Wilson did believe Germany should be punished. But he also believed that if Germany was treated harshly, someday it would recover and want revenge. He was also concerned that extremist groups, especially communists, might exploit resentment among the Germans and communists might even seize power in Germany as they had in Russia in 1917.
What was Woodrow Wilson’s main aims at the Treaty of Versailles?
Strengthen democracy on defeated countries:
For Wilson democracy was a key to peace in Europe. If leaders in defeated nations had to listen to the views of their people and win their votes those people would not let their leaders cause another war.
Give self-determination to small countries that had once been part of European empires:
He wanted the different peoples of eastern Europe (for example, Poles, Czechs and Slovaks) to rule themselves rather than be part of Austria-Hungary’s empire.
International co-operation:
Wilson also believed that nations should co-operate to achieve world peace. This would be achieved through a ‘League of Nations’, Wilson’s most important of the 14 points.
Who was David Lloyd George?
- Prime Minister of Britain
- A realist
- As an experienced politician, he knew there would have to be compromise
- Thus he occupied the middle ground between the views of Wilson and Clemenceau
What was David Lloyd George’s attitude towards Germany?
Punished but not to harshly:
People in Britain were not sympathetic to Germany in any way.
Lloyd George had just won the 1918 election in Britain by promising to ‘make Germany pay’, even though he realised the dangers of this course of action. So Lloyd George had to balance these pressures at home with his desire not to leave Germany wanting revenge.
What was David Lloyd George’s main aims at the Treaty of Versailles?
- Germany to be justly punished but not too harshly
- Germany’s navy and colonies these threat to Britain’s own navy and empire
- Germany and Britain became trading partners (a resumption of the past)
- Keep the British Empire strong, united and well defended
Who was Georges Clemenceau?
- Prime Minister of France
- Born in 1841
- A hard, tough politician with a reputation for being uncompromising. He had seen his country invaded twice by the Germans, in 1870 and in 1914. He was determined not to allow such devastation ever again.
What was Georges Clemenceau’s attitude towards Germany?
The major disagreement was over Germany. Clemenceau and other French leaders saw the Treaty as an opportunity to cripple Germany so that it could not attack France again.
The French people wanted a treaty that would punish Germany and weaken it as much as possible.
What was Georges Clemenceau’s main aims at the Treaty of Versailles?
- To destroy Germany so it couldn’t attack France again
- Germany to pay France all that it needed to repair the damage caused by war
- Germany to admit that they alone caused the war
- Revenge on Germany wherever possible
- Wanted Germany broken down into smaller states (weakened)
What was the Paris Peace Conference?
- The conference took place in the Palace of Versailles
- It lasted for 12 months
- 32 nations were supposed to be represented, but no one from the defeated nations was invited
- 5 treaties were drawn up at the conference. The main one was the Treaty of Versailles, which dealt with Germany. The other treaties dealt with Germany’s allies
- All of the important decisions on the fate of Germany were taken by Clemenceau (PM of France), Lloyd George (PM of Britain) and Wilson (P of USA) who together were known as ‘The Big Three’
- The Big Three were supported by a huge army of diplomats and expert advisors, but the Big Three ignored their advice
