The Great War - History Book Chapter (Page 24 of 26) in pdf

The Treaty of Versailles: Major Provisions

League of Nations

Territorial Losses

Military Restrictions

War Guilt

• International peace

• Germany returns

• Limits set on the size of

• Sole respon-

organization; enemy

Alsace-Lorraine to

the German army

sibility for the

and neutral nations

France; French border

war placed on

• Germany prohibited

initially excluded

extended to west bank

Germany’s

from importing or manu-

of Rhine River

shoulders

• Germany and Russia

facturing weapons or

excluded

• Germany surrenders all

war material

• Germany forced

of its overseas colonies

to pay the Allies

• Germany forbidden to

in Africa and the Pacific

$33 billion in

build or buy submarines

reparations over

or have an air force

30 years

SKILLBUILDER:

Interpreting Charts

Analyzing Issues In what ways did the treaty punish Germany?

Clarifying What two provinces were returned to France as a result of the treaty?

In addition, the treaty with Germany, in particular the war-guilt clause, left a

legacy of bitterness and hatred in the hearts of the German people. Other countries

felt cheated and betrayed by the peace settlements as well. Throughout Africa and

Asia, people in the mandated territories were angry at the way the Allies disre-

garded their desire for independence. The European powers, it seemed to them,

merely talked about the principle of national self-determination. European colo-

Analyzing Issues

nialism, disguised as the mandate system, continued in Asia and Africa.

What com-

plaints did various

Some Allied powers, too, were embittered by the outcome. Both Japan and

mandated coun-

Italy, which had entered the war to gain territory, had gained less than they

tries voice about

wanted. Lacking the support of the United States, and later other world powers,

the Treaty of

the League of Nations was in no position to take action on these and other com-

Versailles?

plaints. The settlements at Versailles represented, as one observer noted, “a peace

built on quicksand.” Indeed, that quicksand eventually would give way. In a little

more than two decades, the treaties’ legacy of bitterness would help plunge the

world into another catastrophic war.

SECTION

ASSESSMENT

TERMS & NAMES

For each term or name, write a sentence explaining its significance.

•

Woodrow Wilson

•

Georges Clemenceau

•

Fourteen Points

•

self-determination

•

Treaty of Versailles

•

League of Nations

USING YOUR NOTES

MAIN IDEAS

CRITICAL THINKING & WRITING

Which group was most

What was the goal of Woodrow

Were the Versailles treaties fair?

6. FORMING OPINIONS

justified in its reaction to the

Wilson’s Fourteen Points?

Consider all the nations affected.

treaty? Why?

What was the “war guilt” clause

Why might the European Allies have

7. ANALYZING MOTIVES

in the Treaty of Versailles?

been more interested in punishing Germany than in

creating a lasting peace?

Reaction to Treaty

Why did the United States

reject the Treaty of Versailles?

Was the United States right to

8. EVALUATING DECISIONS

Germany

reject the Treaty of Versailles? Why or why not?

Africans

& Asians

Create a list

9. WRITING ACTIVITY

POWER AND AUTHORITY

Italy

of five interview questions a reporter might ask Wilson

& Japan

or Clemenceau about the Paris Peace Conference. Then

write the possible answers to those questions.

INTERNET ACTIVITY

Use the Internet to explore a recent achievement or activity by the

INTERNET KEYWORD

United Nations

United Nations, the modern-day equivalent of the League of Nations.

Present your findings in a brief oral report to the class.

861

The Great War

The Great War - History Book Chapter Page 24

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