Revision Diary

Paris Peace Conference

   

Paris Peace Conference:

Woodrow Wilson, Lloyd George, Clemenceau – their views and motives

 

 

1.  Make sure that you know the STORY of the Paris Peace Conference.

2.  Make sure that, for each of the Big Three, you can explain:

●   WHAT they wanted

●   How successful they were in getting what they wanted.

●   Their IMPORTANCE within the conference/peace process

    

  

  

The Paris Peace Conference

Overview

The conference met to sort out the peace after WWI.  

Most people wanted a lasting peace, but many people wanted to 'make Germany pay'.  

President Wilson of America (who wanted the League of Nations) fell out with President Clemenceau of France (who wanted to destroy Germany), with Prime Minister Lloyd George of Britain in the middle wanting a compromise.

 

Facts

1   Jan 1919, delegates from 32 countries met at Versailles

2   25 March Fontainbleau Memorandum - Lloyd George forced Clemenceau and Wilson to agree (he got Clemenceau to accept the LoN, and Wilson to accept Clause 231).

3   28 June: the Germans were forced to sign.

  

 

  

What the Big Three Wanted

Wilson

Wilson wanted a fair peace based on his 14 Points, including:

1.   self-determination

2.   International Co-operation (League of Nations)

Clemenceau

Clemenceau wanted revenge, to punish and destroy Germany by:

1.   Reparations (’make Germany pay’)

2.   an independent Rhineland.

Lloyd George

Lloyd George had promised to 'make Germany pay', but did not want revenge like France - he wanted a 'just' peace, including:

1.   expand British Empire by getting Mandates

2.   protect British navy (by reducing the German navy)

  

  

  

What the Big Three Got

Wilson

LIKED/GOT

•   League of Nations

DISLIKED

•   War-guilt clause

•   colonies were given no say in their future

Clemenceau

LIKED/GOT

•   War-guilt, disarmament and reparations

•   Getting Alsace-Lorraine

DISLIKED

•   only got Saar for 15 years)

•   wanted an independent Rhineland, not just demilitarised.

Lloyd George

LIKED/GOT

•   reducing German navy

•   getting German colonies as British mandates

DISLIKED

•   harshness of reparations

  

  

  

Importance of the Big Three

Wilson

1.   Got the League of Nations - new way of keeping the peace still seen today (in UN).

2.   Failed to get US Congress to agree ToV or LoN - so made sure they both failed

Clemenceau

1.   Harshness of ToV angered the Germans and gave Hitler his chance.

2.   Weakened Germany until Hitler re-armed after 1935.

Lloyd George

1.   Helped the British empire and the British navy

2.   Saved the Conference by the Fontainbleau memorandum

  

 

Revision Focus

This is a Paper 1 topic, so concentrate on learning:

1.   WHAT happened

2.   EFFECTS/ Importance

  

Links

Mini-book on the Conference and the Aims

Lloyd George at the Conference - essential

  

Online revision sheet  

  

Essays on the Aims and Achievements of the Big 3 at Versailles