WW1 - Peace conference Flashcards
What had the war enhanced for America?
The prestige of American democracy.
What was this prestige was symbolised by?
The image and ideals of President Woodrow Wilson, who was the dominant personality of the Peace Conference that opened in Paris in January 1919.
What did people around the world believe about ‘Wilsonian idealism’?
It would make a better world after the ‘war to end all wars’.
What were the 4 strong reasons for the high hopes the world placed on Wilson?
- US seemed a shining example of Republican democracy.
- It was free of any guilt for starting the war.
- Its new economic and military potential put the US among the great powers.
- Its anti-colonial history emphasised the idea of ‘clean hands’ and moral superiority.
When was the Paris Peace conference and what did it set out to establish?
- It set out to establish a post-war peace settlement based on the ’14 points’ that Wilson had proposed in Jan 1918.
Why was it not easy for Wilson to convert these ideals into reality?
Clashes of opinion with other big 4 peacemakers (Clemencau, Lloyd, George, Orlando).
Give an example of the big 4 disagreeing.
Wilson had promised to support full independence for the Armenian and Kurdish peoples, but neither promise could be fulfilled because of opposition from other powers.
Give evidence that suggests the big 4 did not fail completely.
- 5 treaties were signed with Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey.
- New nations founded, new borders mapped out and League of Nations established.
How many US soldiers were killed and what did this cause?
50,000 US soldiers killed. US casualties small but enough to sway public and political opinion against ‘Europe’s war’.
What happened when Wilson came home from Paris?
He had a hard task in ‘selling’ the treaty and LON to American people.
