essay questions on the treaty of versailles

Treaty of Versailles: 5 SEQ Samples

Common questions from O level history on the Treaty of Versailles will focus on the objectives of the Treaty. Another type of common question will revolve around whether it is fair or not.

To help students understand how to answer the questions above, I have listed down five sample Structure Essay Questions for them to model after.

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1. Explain the aims of the USA and France during the Paris Peace Conference in 1919.

( P ) Under President Woodrow Wilson’s leadership, the USA wanted a fair treaty.

( E ) Wilson wanted to create a world based on just principles, be a safer place and never experience war as devastating as World War 1. Wilson had drawn up a list of his ideals, the Fourteen Points. He hoped to give people the choice of self-determination and create an organisation that would stop future wars. Wilson recognised that the Allies should punish Germany but wanted the punishment to be fair and not cripple Germany.

( E ) The USA had a different experience in WW1 and had suffered very little compared to France, having entered the war only in 1917.

( L ) Hence, it was not surprising that the USA’s aims were ideal and did not set out to overly punish the war’s losers.

( P ) France, on the other hand, was determined to punish Germany at the Paris Peace Conference.

( E ) Clemenceau aimed to weaken Germany to the point that it would not attack France again. Thus, Clemenceau wanted to weaken the German army and create a buffer zone between them. In addition, he wanted the Germans to pay so much compensation to France that the Germans would find their economy crippled. He also wanted land they had lost to Germany in an earlier war returned.

( E ) He did so because France had suffered tremendously during the war as the bulk of the fighting was on French soil.  More than 1.5 million French died, and hundreds of thousands were injured. In addition, the conflict destroyed large areas of agricultural and industrial land.

( L ) Hence, they set out to push forth terms that would cripple Germany.

2. ‘The main aim of the Treaty of Versailles was to foster democracy in the world.’ How far do you agree? Explain your answer.

( P ) A motive of the Allies was to foster democracy in the world.

( E ) USA’s Woodrow Wilson greatly championed this. Wilson’s principle of self-determination allowed people except Germany to choose where they wanted to live. New countries were also set up in Europe due to self-determination by the people of the territories.

Furthermore, British Prime Minister Lloyd George moderated the punishment meted out on Germany by the Allies. He felt that Germany should be punished but not too harshly. Furthermore, Western European powers were afraid of communism; fostering democracy became a vital motive.

( E ) The Allies hoped that Germany could be a barrier against the rising threat of communism, and to achieve this, the Treaty was meant to foster democracy.

( L ) Wilson, and to a lesser extent, Lloyd George, did not want to take revenge on Germany but rather to promote democracy in the world and prevent the spread of communism to the rest of Europe.

( P ) However, the Treaty of Versailles was also meant to prevent another outbreak of war in Europe and the world.

( E )  Britain and France had been affected by World War I. France had suffered the most as the bulk of the fighting had taken place there. These countries were against the idea of another war that might further drain them.

As it was, they were starting to recuperate their losses and pay back the debts they had incurred due to the war. Hence, France and Britain were war-weary, and the politicians from these countries seriously wanted to prevent an outbreak of another war.

( E ) They wanted to keep Germany militarily and economically weak. The Treaty kept the German’s army at 100,000 men, with strict air force and navy restrictions. In addition, the Allies demanded reparations that kept Germany financially vulnerable. They took away economically vital land so that it would lack funds to support its military operations.

( L ) Thus the Treaty of Versailles made to punish Germany for its involvement in the war.

( J ) Ultimately, I’m afraid I have to disagree with the statement that the main aim of the Treaty of Versailles was to foster democracy. The Treaty was too focused on punishing Germany and did not have clauses to help the new democratic government of Germany to do well. As a result, the democratic Weimar government in Germany struggled to repay its debts. It managed to stabilise Germany only because the United States intervened.

3. ‘The Treaty of Versailles was unfair to Germany only because of demilitarisation.’ How far do you agree? Explain your answer.

( P ) Yes, the ToV was unfair to Germany because of demilitarisation.

( E ) The Allies were worried that Germany could start another war if they were strong. Hence, the ToV stipulated that Germany could only maintain a minimal army of 100,000 men in the army, 15,000 men in the navy and no air force or tanks or submarines.

( E ) However, the ToV made Germany’s armed forces so weak that Germany had trouble defending itself. Thus, Germany was vulnerable as they could not fend off any incoming attacks easily. In that vein, their national security was under threat. The ToV also stated that Rhineland, the buffer region between France and Germany, be demilitarised.

However, the ToV did not consider French hatred of Germany, which left Germany exposed to a potential French invasion via the now defenceless Rhineland, only served to threaten German national survival further.

( L ) Thus, demilitarisation was unfair since it jeopardised German safety and compromised the country’s fundamental right to defence.

( P ) But there were other sides of the ToV that were equally, if not more, unfair for Germany.

( E ) One other such clause was the reparations of 6.6 million pounds that Germany had to pay. Finally, as part of accepting the War Guilt Clause, Germany had to take responsibility for all the costs of war.

( E ) However, like the country war-stricken countries, Germany also had to rebuild its economy. The massive deaths from the war only made Germany poorer than the other countries after the war. As such, they could not afford to pay for the reparations. Angered by the delay in payment, France proceeded to invade The Ruhr to obtain compensation in kind through German coal.

The invasion devastated Germany even more since that area was Germany’s most industrialised state, and the country had hoped to depend on it for survival. In addition, outraged German workers also stopped work in protest of the French invasion. Hence, the strikes slowed the German economy.

( L ) The reparations started a new cycle of problems after the war and made it nearly impossible for the nation to survive, rendering this clause unfair.

( J ) Comparing the two impacts of ToV, I would agree with the statement to a large extent. While money is certainly crucial for a country’s survival, it is almost impossible to be committed to restarting the economy or working productively if the German citizens have to worry about their safety and their families. As testified by the French invasion of The Ruhr, having potential threats lurking does not promote a healthy environment for Germany to function and, in turn, recover economically. Hence, since defence appears to be a more pertinent issue for Germany, demilitarisation would be a more unfair clause of the ToV.

4. ‘The Treaty of Versailles was fair.’ Do you agree? Explain your answer.

( P ) I’m afraid I have to disagree that the Treaty of Versailles was fair because Germany had to accept the War Guilt Clause.

( E ) This clause effectively shifts the blame for starting the war on the Germans. By taking full accountability, Germany was then also made liable to pay for the damages incurred during the war.

( E ) However, it was Austria-Hungary that first declared war on Serbia. It was the alliance system that pulled Germany into the conflict. Furthermore, many other countries were involved in World War One. Therefore, the Treaty of Versailles was not fair as the blame fell on Germany even though it was not entirely their fault. They were not the only aggressors in the war, nor were they the only country involved in causing damage, but they were held solely responsible.

( L ) The blame was incredibly unfair since the previous government, led by the late Kaiser, started the war, not them.

( P ) On the other hand, the Treaty of Versailles can be considered fair because Germany had caused extensive damages to neighbouring countries during the war.

( E ) The German military was powerful, and most of the battles took place in France. As a result, there was great devastation and the loss of lives. The fighting destroyed farms and lands. It also disrupted the lives of civilians. On top of that, France lost 1.3 million soldiers, and 4.3 million were wounded. In total, France faced $24 billion of damages.

( E ) The Treaty of Versailles was a fair one as it made Germany pay reparations after considering their actions and the damages.

( L ) As Germany was the cause of the destruction, it was only justified to punish Germany for it.

( J ) In conclusion, the Treaty of Versailles was not a fair treaty. Germany was not the only country involved in damaging the land. The Treaty did not punish the other countries for participating in the war, but instead, Germany had to bear the total cost of reparations. On top of that, Germany had no opportunity to defend herself or speak up against the terms as the victors excluded Germany from the Paris Peace Conference. As such, the punishments imposed by the victors on Germany were too harsh and unfair.

5. Explain why the Germans felt that the Treaty of Versailles was a humiliation.

(P) The Treaty of Versailles was humiliating to the Germans because it made Germany blame World War I.

( E ) Germany was forced to sign the War Guilt Clause, which meant that she had to take complete blame for causing WWI. As a result of accepting all responsibility, Germany had to pay 6,600 million pounds as part of reparations and compensation for all the damage caused in the war. Hence, this caused the Germans to feel humiliated because while she was not the only one to start the war, she had to take full blame, which seemed unfair.

( E ) Furthermore, the sum of reparations was also unreasonably high, and there was no way they could pay it when the Treaty of Versailles also imposed so many other economic punishments on them as well. As such, they felt humiliated by the Treaty of Versailles.

( P ) The Treaty of Versailles was humiliating to the Germans because of its harsh military terms.

( E ) The Treaty of Versailles made Germany extremely militarily weak.  Although Germany was one of the many countries that participated in WWI, she only one to be disarmed.

The German army was limited to only 100 000 soldiers, and no conscription was allowed. They were also not allowed to have an air force or any tanks. The navy was limited to 6 battleships and no submarines. The reduction made Germany very weak militarily. There was also a demilitarised zone in the Rhineland where they could not place any troops to defend themselves.

( E ) Many German officers and German citizens saw the disarmament as a disgrace as it severely weakened their defence capabilities. Moreover, even though the Allies were also involved in the war, they were not made to disarm.

( L ) As a result, the Germans felt that the Treaty of Versailles was highly humiliating for them as it seemed highly harsh on them and left them vulnerable.

If you want to know more about O Level History, do check out this blog post . For more information on the Treaty of Versailles, you can check this out .

You can download a pdf version below.

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• Reasons for the Defeat of Germany
• Reasons for World War II in Asia-Pacific
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• Reasons for the Cold War
• Cuban Missile Crisis
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Course: US history   >   Unit 7

• The presidency of Woodrow Wilson
• Blockades, u-boats and sinking of the Lusitania
• Zimmermann Telegram
• United States enters World War I
• World War I: Homefront
• The United States in World War I
• Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points
• Paris Peace Conference and Treaty of Versailles
• More detail on the Treaty of Versailles and Germany
• The League of Nations

The Treaty of Versailles

• The First World War

• The Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, and officially ended the war between Germany and the Allied Powers.
• The controversial War Guilt clause blamed Germany for World War I and imposed heavy debt payments on Germany.
• The Treaty of Versailles was a major contributing factor in the outbreak of the Second World War .

Ending the First World War: the Paris Peace Conference

Terms of the treaty of versailles, consequences of the treaty of versailles, what do you think.

• For more on the Paris Peace Conference, see Margaret MacMillan, Paris 1919: Six Months that Changed the World (New York: Random House, 2003).
• See Erez Manela, The Wilsonian Moment: Self-Determination and the International Origins of Anticolonial Nationalism (New York: Oxford University Press, 2009).
• For more on the League of Nations, see George Scott, The Rise and Fall of the League of Nations (New York: Macmillan, 1974).
• William R. Keylor, The Legacy of the Great War: Peacemaking, 1919 (Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin, 1998), 34.
• For more, see John Milton Cooper, Jr., Breaking the Heart of the World: Woodrow Wilson and the Fight for the League of Nations (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2010).
• Adam Tooze, The Wages of Destruction: The Making and Breaking of the Nazi Economy (New York: Penguin, 2006), 52-53.
• Norman A. Graebner and Edward M. Bennett, The Versailles Treaty and its Legacy: The Failure of the Wilsonian Vision (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2014), 107-109.

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Treaty of Versailles

By: History.com Editors

Updated: April 24, 2023 | Original: October 29, 2009

The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919 at the Palace of Versailles in Paris at the end of World War I , codified peace terms between Germany and the victorious Allies. The Treaty of Versailles held Germany responsible for starting the war and imposed harsh penalties on the Germans, including loss of territory, massive reparations payments and demilitarization. Far from the “peace without victory” that U.S. President Woodrow Wilson had outlined in his famous Fourteen Points in early 1918, the Treaty of Versailles humiliated Germany while failing to resolve the underlying issues that had led to war in the first place. Economic distress and seething resentment of the treaty within Germany helped fuel the rise of Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party , as well as World War II .

The Fourteen Points  

In a speech to Congress in January 1918, Wilson laid out his idealistic vision for the world after World War I, which was at the time sometimes referred to as “the war to end all wars.”

In addition to specific territorial settlements based on an Allied victory, Wilson’s so-called Fourteen Points emphasized the need for national self-determination for Europe’s different ethnic populations.

Wilson also proposed the founding of a “general association of nations” that would mediate international disputes and foster cooperation between different nations in the hopes of preventing war on such a large scale in the future. This organization eventually became known as the League of Nations .

History Vault: The Last Day Of World War I

More soldiers died on the last day of WWI than on D-Day. Find out why Allied leaders found outrageous excuses to send 13,000 men to their deaths against a defeated enemy. The senseless 11th-hour slaughter captures the whole of WWI.

When German leaders signed the armistice ending hostilities in World War I on November 11, 1918, they believed Wilson’s vision would form the basis for any future peace treaty. This would not prove to be the case.

Paris Peace Conference 

The Paris Peace Conference opened on January 18, 1919, a date that was significant in that it marked the anniversary of the coronation of German Emperor Wilhelm I, which took place in the Palace of Versailles at the end of the Franco-Prussian War in 1871.

Prussian victory in that conflict had resulted in Germany’s unification and its seizure of Alsace and Lorraine provinces from France. In 1919, France and its prime minister, Georges Clemenceau, had not forgotten the humiliating loss and intended to avenge it in the new peace agreement. 

Treaty of Versailles Terms

The “ Big Four ” leaders of the victorious Western nations—Wilson of the United States, David Lloyd George of Great Britain, Georges Clemenceau of France and, to a lesser extent, Vittorio Orlando of Italy—dominated the peace negotiations in Paris. Germany and the other defeated powers—Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey—were not represented at the Paris Peace Conference. Also absent was Russia, which had fought as one of the Allied powers until 1917, when, following the Russian Revolution , the country’s new Bolshevik government concluded a separate peace with Germany and withdrew from the conflict.

The Big Four themselves had competing objectives in Paris: Clemenceau’s main goal was to protect France from yet another attack by Germany. He sought heavy reparations from Germany as a way of limiting German economic recovery after the war and minimizing this possibility.

Lloyd George, on the other hand, saw the rebuilding of Germany as a priority in order to reestablish the nation as a strong trading partner for Great Britain. For his part, Orlando wanted to expand Italy’s influence and shape it into a major power that could hold its own alongside the other great nations.

Wilson opposed Italian territorial demands, as well as previously existing arrangements regarding territory between the other Allies; instead, he wanted to create a new world order along the lines of his Fourteen Points. The other leaders saw Wilson as too naive and idealistic, and his principles were difficult to translate into policy.

In the end, the European Allies imposed harsh peace terms on Germany, forcing the nation to surrender around 10 percent of its territory and all of its overseas possessions. Other key provisions of the Treaty of Versailles called for the demilitarization and occupation of the Rhineland, limited Germany’s army and navy, forbade it to maintain an air force, and required it to conduct war crimes trials against Kaiser Wilhelm II and other leaders for their aggression.

Most importantly, Article 231 of the treaty, better known as the “ war guilt clause ,” forced Germany to accept full responsibility for starting World War I and pay enormous reparations for Allied war losses.

How Did the Treaty of Versailles Lead to World War II?

The Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, exactly five years after the Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife in Sarajevo, sparking the outbreak of the war. Though the treaty included a covenant creating the League of Nations, an international organization aimed at preserving peace, the harsh terms imposed on Germany helped ensure that peace would not last for long.

Germans were furious about the treaty, seeing it as a diktat, or dictated peace; they bitterly resented the sole blame of war being placed at their feet. The nation’s burden of reparations eventually topped 132 billion gold Reichsmarks, the equivalent of some $33 billion, a sum so great that no one expected Germany to be able to pay in full; in fact, economists like John Maynard Keynes predicted the European economy would collapse if it did.

Keynes was not the only prominent critic of the Treaty of Versailles: The French military leader Ferdinand Foch refused to attend the signing ceremony, as he thought the treaty didn’t do enough to secure against a future German threat, while the U.S. Congress failed to ratify the Treaty of Versailles , and later concluded a separate peace with Germany. The United States would never join the short-lived League of Nations.

November Criminals

In the years following the Treaty of Versailles, many ordinary Germans believed they had been betrayed by the “November Criminals,” those leaders who signed the treaty and formed the post-war government.

Radical right-wing political forces—especially the National Socialist Workers’ Party, or the Nazis—would gain support in the 1920s and ‘30s by promising to reverse the humiliation of the Versailles Treaty.

With the onset of the Great Depression after 1929, economic unrest destabilized the already vulnerable Weimar Republic government in Germany, setting the stage for Nazi leader Adolf Hitler’s fateful rise to power in 1933.

The Paris Peace Conference and the Treaty of Versailles. U.S. Department of State: Office of the Historian . “The Treaty of Versailles: An Uneasy Peace,” WBUR.org (excerpt from Michael Neiberg, The Treaty of Versailles: A Concise History), August 13, 2017. Treaty of Versailles. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum . The Treaty of Versailles, 1919. Chateau de Versailles .

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The Great War: Evaluating the Treaty of Versailles

Council of Four at the WWI Paris peace conference, May 27, 1919 (candid photo) (L - R) Prime Minister David Lloyd George (Great Britian) Premier Vittorio Orlando, Italy, French Premier Georges Clemenceau, President Woodrow Wilson

Wikimedia Commons

Although at the postwar peace talks President Woodrow Wilson wished above all to prevent future wars, the Treaty of Versailles, which formally ended World War I, is widely considered to have contributed to the rise to power of the Nazi party in Germany. Was the Treaty of Versailles a legitimate and justified attempt by the victorious powers to ensure that Germany would never again pose a military threat? Or did the Treaty, as the Nazis and many other politicians in Germany claimed, place an unfair and unnecessarily punitive burden on Germany? Was the supposed unfairness of the Treaty a significant contributor to the rise of the Nazi party in Germany—or was it merely a convenient rhetorical tool for German politicians to exploit? If the unfairness of the Treaty were indeed a cause of fascism in Germany, how do we explain the rise of fascism in Italy (which fought on the side of the allies in World War I) or the existence of fascist movements in Britain, the Netherlands, and other Western democracies in the 1930s?

By studying a variety of primary sources, maps, and supporting documents concerning the post-war peace process, students will develop a context for evaluating whether the treaty was a viable, fair one, and for considering some of the complex questions this issue raises about the historical causality and responsibility. The lesson fits within a larger unit on World War I, and some prior knowledge of the causes and events of the war is assumed.

Guiding Questions

Were the terms of the Treaty of Versailles fair and justified?

To what extent was the Treaty of Versailles successful?

Was the Treaty of Versailles a turning point for U.S. foreign policy?

Learning Objectives

Evaluate the motives and aims of the Treaty of Versailles.

Evaluate the arguments presented regarding the treatment of Germany following WWI. 

Evaluate how each country's unique wartime experience informed its motives at the Peace Conference.

Evaluate the consequences of key provisions regarding self-determination, reparations, alliances, colonialism, and armaments. 

Assess the short and long term consequences of the Treaty of Versailles in Europe and globally. 

Lesson Plan Details

NCSS.D1.1.9-12. Explain how a question reflects an enduring issue in the field.

NCSS. D2.Civ.6.9-12. Critique relationships among governments, civil societies, and economic markets.

NCSS.D2.His.1.9-12. Evaluate how historical events and developments were shaped by unique circumstances of time and place as well as broader historical contexts.

NCSS.D2.His.2.9-12. Analyze change and continuity in historical eras.

NCSS.D2.His.3.9-12. Use questions generated about individuals and groups to assess how the significance of their actions changes over time and is shaped by the historical context.

NCSS.D2.His.4.9-12. Analyze complex and interacting factors that influenced the perspectives of people during different historical eras.

NCSS.D2.His.5.9-12. Analyze how historical contexts shaped and continue to shape people’s perspectives.

NCSS.D2.His.12.9-12. Use questions generated about multiple historical sources to pursue further inquiry and investigate additional sources.

NCSS. D3.1.9-12. Gather relevant information from multiple sources representing a wide range of views while using the origin, authority, structure, context, and corroborative value of the sources to guide the selection.

• Review Hitler's April 17, 1923 speech , available here as a downloadable PDF, denouncing the treaty.
• Review Articles 42–50 and 231–235, and skim Articles 159–213, of the Treaty of Versailles ; the text is from the EDSITEment resource Great War Primary Documents Archive . Another webpage containing the text in its entirety, The Versailles Treaty , is available from the EDSITEment-reviewed from Internet Public Library, which has a page specifically devoted to World War I History.
• Review background information on the treaty and the German reaction, available through two resources from the History Department at Colby College, and reviewed by the Center for the Liberal Arts , an EDSITEment resource: " Germany's Responsibility for the War " and " The Weimar Republic: the Treaty of Versailles ."
• Read background information on the treaty's place in the subsequent rise to power of the Nazis, available at the EDSITEment resource U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum : " Treaty of Versailles, 1919 ." The article points out that the Treaty was a useful rhetorical device for the Nazis and other right-wing parties, which could brandish it as evidence of the traitorous actions of democratic parties that had accepted the terms of the treaty. The article also makes the point that in the years following 1921, the date the Treaty took effect, the Treaty was altered in Germany's favor, and that "with the occupation of the Rhineland on March 7, 1936, all military restrictions (which had already been violated before Hitler's accession to power) became null and void."
• Maps of Europe before, during, and after World War I are available through the Department of History at the United States Military Academy. The Map Library contains these contrasting maps: Europe in 1914 and Europe in 1919 ; The World in 1914 and The World in 1919 .
• Besides teaching students about the contents of the Treaty of Versailles, this lesson raises challenging questions about historical causality and responsibility. Students have an innate sense of what is and isn't fair and may have strong feelings about the fairness (or not) of the Treaty. Provided in the Introduction, and in activity 5, are some questions for discussion that may help your students think about—or rethink—the implications of the positions they take in activity 5.

Activity 1. Motives for the Treaty: the Trauma of World War I

Begin by sharing with your students the enormous and unprecedented human costs of the Great War. This will give them a context for considering the motivations of the allied powers in imposing the Treaty of Versailles, and for judging whether or not the terms of the Treaty were justified. By comparing the numbers of casualties and total troops mobilized, students will also have a basis for understanding the differing positions taken by the countries that drew up the Treaty.

Begin by examining death and casualty tolls from France and the United States, respectively. For a brief look, students may use the Diagram: Deaths by Countries in Thousands at the Great War Primary Documents Archive . For a more in-depth look, with information not only on deaths, but on total casualties and total mobilized men, have students look at the diagram Casualties: First World War , produced by the Spartacus Educational Network in Great Britain, a link from Center for the Liberal Arts . Have students note not only the total deaths and casualties, but also particularly the percentage of casualties relative to total mobilized. Also have students examine photographs of destruction along the western front in France. The three sets of Before and After photographs from the Great War Primary Documents Archive will probably suffice, although you may also wish to have students include some or all of the following: Ruins of Vaux , Ruins of Arras Cathedral , and Ruins of the Arras Hotel de Ville . What level of destruction do these pictures indicate? What are some emotions evoked when viewing these images? What happened to the originally charming and vibrant Village of Esnes? Why is it significant that major civic buildings such as the Courthouse (Palace of Justice), cathedral, and City Hall (Hotel de Ville) were destroyed? Can you envision what these buildings and towns may have looked like before the war? How long do you think it would take to rebuild these buildings and communities? How much do you think it would cost? Can a community ever really recover from such destruction? Ask students to speculate, based on this information, how France's goals for the postwar settlement might differ from U.S. goals. What might France fear? What would France probably want with respect to Germany? Why? Would those desires be reasonable? Why or why not? Why might the U.S. be able to take a more idealistic perspective?

The following video from the Khan Academy offers a summation of the lead up to the Paris Peace Conference after the Great War and the issues that needed to be resolved. 

Activity 2. Drawing Up the Treaty: France and the United States

Next have students read excerpts from President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points speech to Congress from the Great War Primary Documents Archive . Specifically, first have students read the last two paragraphs of Wilson's speech (the part before the actual enumeration of the points). What does Wilson say are the goals of the United States? What is his hope for the world and for the postwar talks? Then have students read the first paragraph right after the enumeration of the Fourteen Points. What is Wilson's stated attitude toward Germany? How would this attitude differ from France's? Again, in the context of the information from activity #1 above, why might the U.S. be more inclined than France to take an idealistic perspective?

Activity 3. Optional activity: A Treaty of the Victors

Have students write out a list, based on their knowledge, of what they believe would be the most important respective postwar goals for France, Germany, and the United States. Each country should have at least 5 items, ranked from most important to least important. (You may wish to start students out with one or two items, such as have Germany pay for the war or establish a peace-keeping body.) Break students into groups of three, each of whom represents one of these countries, and have students spend approximately 20-30 minutes attempting to negotiate an agreement centered around these goals. When time is up, discuss the process and share the various results. Were there any common goals? Were compromises made? Which country was most pleased with how the negotiations turned out? Most displeased? On balance, did each country feel it had achieved its most important goal? Were there any particular impasses or impediments to agreements?

Be sure to inform students that in reality, Germany was not represented at the settlement talks. Later in the lesson, after considering the real treaty, ask how Germany's presence might have altered the peace process. (An alternative activity would be to do the above activity with only France and the United States represented; this has the advantage of being closer to the historical reality.)

Activity 4. The Terms of the Treaty

• Now have students begin to consider the actual terms of the peace treaty with respect to Germany. First have students analyze before and after maps of Europe and the world. (See Preparing to Teach section for several options for maps to use in this activity.) How much European land did Germany lose? Which regions specifically? To which countries did this land go? What land worldwide was lost by Germany? To which countries did this land go?
• Students should then read Sections III and IV (Articles 42-50) of the treaty for the terms pertaining to the Rhineland and the Saar Basin; these articles are in the treaty section Political Clauses For Europe . (Preparing to Teach section above for links to the treaty.) Have students locate these regions on a map. Why were these clauses probably inserted? What benefits did these clauses give France? Was it reasonable to establish the demilitarized Rhineland buffer zone? How would the terms regarding the Saar Basin affect the German economy? How would Germany probably react to these terms?
• Next have students read the treaty for the terms pertaining to Germany's military, in the treaty section Military, Naval and Air Clauses . What were the terms for Germany? What sovereign powers did Germany lose? How might these clauses have satisfied France? How would Germany probably react? Have students discuss whether it is reasonable to disarm a former enemy belligerent.
• Students should then read the treaty for the terms pertaining to Germany's war guilt and reparations, in the treaty section Reparations . First discuss the infamous "war guilt clause," Article 231. Why does it single out Germany and not the other Central Powers? Based on their knowledge (again, it is assumed that students will have already spent time learning the causes of the war), is this clause accurate? Does Germany warrant more responsibility than other countries? Do the Allies bear any responsibility? As preparation, for this discussion, you may wish to have students read the aforementioned background essays that discuss the extent of German guilt. (See Preparing to Teach section for links to these essays.) Then discuss the sections on reparations, especially Articles 232-235. How much was Germany to pay? How might this affect the German economy?

Activity 5. The German Response

• Have students read the German Reply Memorandum to the treaty, written by the German Foreign Minister Count Brockdorff-Rantzau, available here as a downloadable PDF. Explain that Germany was allowed to fashion a reply to the treaty draft, but its terms were summarily rejected by the Allies. What objections does Germany raise to the treaty? Are these objections valid? Should the Allies have modified the treaty in any way to address these points?
• Now have students read Hitler's April 17, 1923 speech , available here as a downloadable PDF, denouncing the treaty. (Ideally students will already be familiar with the circumstances behind the Weimar Republic. If not, explain to students that the German Kaiser abdicated at the close of World War I, to be succeeded by a democratic republic known as the Weimar Republic. It was representatives of the Weimar Republic who signed the Versailles Treaty.) Discuss his speech. Why is Hitler so vitriolic concerning the Weimar Republic? What does he blame the Weimar Republic for? What other goals does he link to the elimination of the treaty? What imagery does he use? What actions is he alluding to at the end? How might this speech appeal to the emotions of the listener? Consider how the treaty may have contributed to the rise of Nazism, and by extension, World War II. Would Hitler have been able to give such a powerful speech or to find a receptive audience if the treaty had been different?
• Once students have had a chance to consider their positions on this question, discuss with your class some of the larger issues of causality and responsibility that are raised by this exercise. Some questions are: What are our sources for gauging the German response? Can we trust them? Might German politicians in the 1930s have had something to gain by exploiting the bitterness of defeat? If we believe that the terms of the treaty were unfair, does this mean that the allies bear responsibility in some fashion for subsequent developments in Germany? That the German response was justified?
• You may also want to discuss questions raised in the Introduction about other explanations for the appeal of fascism in Germany. Antisemitism was sometimes framed in terms of the supposed "unfair" advantages that Jewish bankers and merchants had taken of hardworking Germans (you can read more about antisemitism and the rise of fascism in Germany at the Holocaust Learning Center, a resource from the U.S. Holocaust Museum).

Meeting of the Minds seminar : Students assume the role of a representative they have researched and participate in a seminar as if they are that person. Students utilize research collected using primary sources, interpret those sources from the perspective of the person they are portraying, and participate in a discussion to persuade others and defend their positions. Some of the nations in attendance at the Paris Peace Conference to be represented include:

• United States of America
• Great Britain
• South Africa
• New Zealand

At the conclusion of the "Meeting of the Minds" discussion, students reflect on the research process, the discussion, and what they learned by arguing from someone else's perspective. This can be modified to small group discussions that each include the same competing perspectives/representatives rather than a whole group seminar. It is recommended that small groups include more than the "Big Four" nations (United States, Great Britain, France, and Italy) so as to more accurately represent the global nature of the Paris Peace Conference and set the stage for World War II. 

Questions to investigate, organize research around, and discuss from the perspective of the representatives students are portraying during the Meeting of the Minds seminar can include:

• What should be done about Germany's military?
• What should be done about Germany's colonies?
• Should Germany be required to pay reparations for war damages?
• What is meant by self-determination and which nations will be included?
• What should be done about those nations that make up the British Commonwealth?
• What new economic policies will we implement to protect international trade interests?
• What power should a League of Nations have and will you join?
• What will the new map of Europe look like (borders, capital cities, flags, etc.)? 
• Have students research other postwar settlements, such as the peace terms of the Congress of Vienna after the Napoleonic Wars, and compare them to the Treaty of Versailles. Some sample questions to consider: What were the victors' goals at the Congress of Vienna? Were they different than the goals of the victors in 1919? Was the 1815 settlement a harsh one toward France? What happened to the government of France after the Napoleonic Wars, and how did this compare to what happened to the government of Germany? What territorial adjustments were made after the Napoleonic Wars, and how did these adjustments compare to the 1919 adjustments? The Congress of Vienna settlement is widely credited with keeping Europe out of a continent-wide war for 100 years (in fact, until World War I!). Why might it have been so successful at keeping the peace, whereas the Versailles settlement collapsed after only two decades? Students should conduct their own research for this expansion activity, but following are some basic background sites for students to begin with (all are linked to the EDSITEment resource, Internet Public Library): "Europe in Retrospect: International Order and Domestic Strife," produced by Britannia Encyclopedia Online; and "Congress of Vienna," a student essay from Chico High School in Chico, California.
• Hold a discussion/debate or give a written assignment exploring what, if any, are the victor's obligations after a war is over. To what extent should a defeated wartime enemy be punished? Is harsh punishment practical? Worthwhile? legitimate?

Recommended Websites

• President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points
• June 28, 1919: The Peace Treaty of Versailles
• Before and After Photographs
• Photographs of Destruction
• Diagram: Deaths by Countries in Thousands
• " Germany's Responsibility for the War "
• " The Weimar Republic: the Treaty of Versailles "
• Casualties: First World War
• " Treaty of Versailles, 1919 "
• Europe in 1914
• Europe in 1919
• The World in 1914
• The World in 1919
• " Europe in Retrospect: International Order and Domestic Strife "
• " Congress of Vienna "

Materials & Media

The great war: evaluating the treaty of versailles: worksheet 1, the great war: evaluating the treaty of versailles: worksheet 2, related on edsitement, united states entry into world war i: a documentary chronology, african-american soldiers in world war i: the 92nd and 93rd divisions.

The Treaty of Versailles

Written by: Bill of Rights Institute

By the end of this section, you will:.

• Explain the causes and consequences of U.S. involvement in World War I

Suggested Sequencing

Use this Decision Point at the end of Chapter 10 to allow students to explore the U.S. role in the conclusion of World War I.

From 1914 to 1917, the president and Congress debated America’s stance toward the war in Europe. Once the United States had been drawn into the conflict in April 1917, their attention turned to debating how best to execute the war and to shape the peace to come after the successful conclusion to the conflict. Guided by progressive ideals, President Woodrow Wilson’s vision was to create a new world order as part of the Treaty of Versailles, in which a league of nations would ensure that this, indeed, was “the war to end all wars.” During the treaty ratification process, Wilson had to decide whether he would fight for this goal without compromising or whether he would work with the Senate to get most of what he wanted.

Wilson’s idealistic vision was challenged in Congress by Republican Senator Henry Cabot Lodge of Massachusetts. Lodge had opposed Wilson’s neutrality policy during the war and opposed the Treaty of Versailles after the war. During the peacemaking process, the conservative Lodge was chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and led the fight against the ratification of the Wilson peace plan, which he viewed as unconstitutional and threatening to American national sovereignty and traditional foreign policy principles. Lodge had to decide whether to obstruct the ratification of the treaty or find areas of compromise with the president.

Massachusetts Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, pictured here in 1916, led the group in Congress whose members opposed President Wilson’s peace plan.

The outbreak of war in August 1914 had prompted President Wilson to urge Americans to be “impartial in thought as well as in action.” Lodge thought neutrality was unsound and impractical and wanted to support the Allied powers. In May 1915, a German U-boat (submarine) sank the passenger liner  Lusitania , killing 1,200 people, including 128 Americans. Wilson asserted that Americans were “too proud to fight” and instead pursued peace for the good of the world. Lodge and his friend Theodore Roosevelt thought the president’s response was feeble idealism inappropriate to the tragedy.

In 1916, Wilson spoke at a meeting of the League to Enforce the Peace. In that speech, he articulated a vision of an association of nations that would keep the peace and end warfare. An international body of nations would stop aggression rather than relying on the existing balance-of-power diplomacy and system of alliances among sovereign nations. Wilson’s ideas culminated in his “peace without victory” speech of January 22, 1917, in which he promoted “the future security of the world against wars.” The new world order was to be rooted in a community of power to achieve peace.

Only a week later, Germany announced it would unleash unrestricted U-boat warfare, gambling that it could starve Great Britain and the Allies into submission before the United States entered the conflict. On April 2, the president went to Congress and asked for a declaration of war. Wilson said the United States must “make the world safe for democracy” by destroying autocracy in Europe and vindicating “the principles of peace and justice” in the world. Congress obliged by declaring war a few days later.

The American Expeditionary Forces were made up of approximately two million troops and helped support the war-weary English and French troops when the United States entered World War I. Pictured are officers of the AEF c. 1918.

As American troops fought in Europe, Wilson worked out his vision of a just and peaceful postwar order. In January 1918, he delivered his Fourteen Points speech, in which he argued for freedom of the seas, a reduction in arms, and national self-determination of ethnic minorities. Most important, Wilson developed his idea of a league of nations. The covenant, or agreement, of the League was the “key to the whole settlement,” as he saw it.

Wilson made several blunders preparing for the peace conference in Versailles. During the 1918 midterm congressional elections, he had made blatantly partisan appeals, stating that Republican dissent with administration policies was unpatriotic. Republicans then won control of both houses of Congress, making Lodge the Senate’s majority leader and the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which considered the peace treaty. Wilson made additional missteps by not inviting any Republicans or senators onto the Versailles peace conference delegation and not consulting with Lodge before he left for Paris. Yet he needed the support of two-thirds of the Senate for the peace treaty to be ratified.

Wilson had a sense of providential destiny about his vision for the League of Nations and his own leadership. Against the recommendations of his advisors, he decided to be the first president to travel overseas to negotiate a peace treaty, because he believed no one else could achieve his goals. When he arrived in Europe in December 1918, millions celebrated him in Paris, London, and Rome, which fed his vanity and sense of moral purpose.

The president briefly returned to the United States in February 1919. On the evening of February 26, Senator Lodge and other members of the Foreign Relations Committee attended a dinner at the White House. Lodge sat impassively while the president spoke about a league of nations to keep the peace. Then he asked Wilson a series of questions. The answers confirmed Lodge’s fear that Article X of the Treaty of Versailles would commit the United States to a war against an aggressor nation that attacked another nation, thus bypassing the constitutional requirement that Congress retain the power to declare war.

Lodge believed in this constitutional principle and opposed committing U.S. troops to conflicts around the world based on the vote of an international body. He and other senators also feared that the League would supersede the Monroe Doctrine, which had asserted American preeminence in the western hemisphere for a century. Wilson was adamant that “you cannot dissect the Covenant from the treaty without destroying the whole vital structure.”

On the evening of March 2, Lodge worked at his home with two other senators to draft a Senate resolution expressing their opposition to the League of Nations. Thirty-nine Republicans signed it, and even some Democrats supported the measure. About a dozen senators were “irreconcilables,” who refused to support the treaty regardless of a compromise, and 40 were “reservationists” who were willing to ratify if Wilson compromised on Article X.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, pictured here in 1919, was led by Henry Cabot Lodge (fifth from the left) and worked to garner support from fellow senators to block Wilson’s peace plan.

On March 3, Lodge delivered an important speech opposing the League of Nations. He criticized Article X for violating the United States’ national sovereignty and Congress’s prerogative to declare war, and he cited the danger that Americans would be forced to send their young men overseas to stop aggressor nations. He stated, “I want to keep America as she has been—not isolated, not prevent her from joining other nations for these great purposes—but I wish her to be master of her fate.” In the Senate, Lodge packed the Foreign Relations Committee with handpicked opponents of the League of Nations.

When President Wilson returned to the United States that summer, he broke with precedent and on July 10 presented the treaty to the Senate in person while addressing the body. As he walked into the chamber with the bulky treaty under his arm, Lodge jokingly asked, “Mr. President, can I carry the treaty for you?” Wilson retorted, “Not on your life.” In his speech, President Wilson asked the Senate rhetorically, “Dare we reject it and break the heart of the world?”

During committee hearings in August, Lodge repeated his concern that Article X violated the principles of the Constitution. He asserted that no American soldier or sailor could be sent overseas to fight a war “except by the constitutional authorities of the United States.” In addition, Lodge worried that membership in the League of Nations would bind the United States to fight in wars around the globe. He thought the primary goal of American foreign policy was to protect American national interests. He said, “Our first ideal is our country. . . We would not have our country’s vigor exhausted or her moral force abated, by everlasting meddling and muddling in every quarrel, great and small which affects the world.”

In September, Wilson further provoked Lodge and other opponents by taking the case for the League of Nations directly to the American people. His speaking tour was consistent with his view of American politics, in which congressional government was messy and the separation of powers an outdated principle. Instead, a strong president needed to act as a national leader who guided the nation in right principles through rhetoric. Large crowds applauded his message that the League was the “cause of mankind,” but the tour was soon cut short when the president suffered a debilitating stroke on October 2, which incapacitated him for months. From his sickbed, he refused any compromise because removing Article X “cuts the very heart out of the treaty.”

Early in the morning of November 19, 1919, spectators flooded the Senate gallery, jockeying for a good vantage point to view the historic debate and the vote on the treaty. Members of the press were there to report the outcome for their newspapers. The 68-year-old Senator Lodge captivated most people’s attention.

This political cartoon, created by John T. McCutcheon in 1918, depicts the U.S. Senate objecting to a marriage between the United States and its “foreign entanglement” bride via the League of Nations. (credit: The Ohio State University, Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum)

The senators debated the treaty during a 10-hour marathon, hearing from all sides, and then prepared to vote. Prodded by Wilson, who told them not to compromise, they rejected the treaty with reservations by a vote of 55–39. A vote was then taken on the treaty without reservations, as the Wilson administration wanted. It was also defeated, by a nearly identical vote of 53–38. Several Democrats begged Wilson to compromise, but he refused. The president deluded himself that he could “bring this country to a sense of its great opportunity and greater responsibility” if only his health improved. When the treaty came up for another vote in mid-November, Wilson obstinately said, “Let Lodge compromise. Let Lodge hold out the olive branch.” The treaty was voted down again, and then for a final time on March 19, 1920.

Throughout the debate over the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations, President Wilson and Senator Lodge rooted their positions in very different visions of American diplomacy. Wilson thought the only way to achieve a lasting peace and new world order was a league of nations. Lodge wanted to preserve American national sovereignty and protect American national interests. This debate between idealism and realism continued to define the course of American foreign relations during the twentieth century.

Review Questions

1. Woodrow Wilson’s plans for the postwar peace was most strongly challenged by

• Henry Cabot Lodge, head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
• Theodore Roosevelt, former president of the United States
• the United States House of Representatives
• supporters of the League of Nations

2. For President Woodrow Wilson, the “future security of the world against wars” most likely centered on

• restoration of a balance of power between France and Germany
• creation of a new world order based on a community of nations
• dominance of the United States in European politics
• retreat from American interventionism and internationalism

3. President Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points included all the following except

• self-determination for ethnic minorities
• freedom of the seas
• a league of nations
• promotion of European autocracy

4. A major misstep in President Wilson’s promotion of his peace plan after World War I was his

• failing to invite any Republicans or members of the Senate to the Versailles Peace Conference
• publicly outlining his Fourteen Points peace plan
• asking Congress for a declaration of war in 1917
• travelling overseas to attend the Versailles Peace Conference

5. The chief objection of the U.S. Senate to the Treaty of Versailles was

• the war reparations clause demanded by the European allies
• the war guilt clause aimed at Germany
• the self-determination proposal for ethnic minorities
• Article X of the League Covenant calling for collective security

6. Ultimately, the U.S. Senate rejected the Treaty of Versailles, stating that it violated

• the Senate’s constitutional power to negotiate treaties
• the President’s constitutional power to declare war
• national sovereignty
• a Supreme Court decision

7. Senate ratification of the Treaty of Versailles required President Wilson to gain the support of

• the “irreconcilables”
• the isolationists
• the internationalists
• the reservationists

Free Response Questions

• Compare President Woodrow Wilson’s and Senator Henry Cabot Lodge’s foreign policy goals at the end of World War I.
• Analyze the reasons the U.S. Senate ultimately refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles.

AP Practice Questions

“Resolved (two-thirds of the senators present concurring therein), that the Senate advise and consent to the ratification of the treaty of peace with Germany concluded at Versailles on the 28th day of June, 1919, subject to the following reservations and understandings . . . 1. . . . The United States shall be the sole judge as to whether all Its international obligations and all its obligations under the said Covenant have been fulfilled . . . 2. The United States assumes no obligation to preserve the territorial integrity or political independence of any other country or to interfere in controversies between nations . . . 4. The United States reserves to itself exclusively the right to decide what questions are within its domestic jurisdiction . . . 9. The United States shall not be obligated to contribute to any expenses of the League . . . unless and until an appropriation of funds . . . shall have been made by the Congress of the United States.”

Henry Cabot Lodge, “Reservations with Regard to the Versailles Treaty,” November 19, 1919

Refer to the excerpt provided.

1. The position outlined in the excerpt is most consistent with

• the message of Washington’s Farewell Address
• the establishment of the Monroe Doctrine
• the United States’ entry into the Spanish-American War
• the treaty ending the war with Mexico

2. What was a direct result of the trend evident in the excerpt?

• An end to Progressive economic reforms
• Growing support for American isolationism in the 1920s
• Ratification of the women’s suffrage amendment
• The United States taking the lead in the League of Nations

3. Which of the following statements best supports the position outlined in the excerpt?

• Changing world conditions necessitated American internationalism.
• States’ rights did not extend to international relations.
• The U.S. Constitution established a system of checks and balances.
• Direct election of U.S. senators freed the Senate from the influence of special interests.

Primary Sources

Lodge, Henry Cabot. “Constitution of the League of Nations.” February 28, 1919.  https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/pdf/LodgeLeagueofNations.pdf

Wilson, Woodrow. “Joint Address to Congress Leading to a Declaration of War Against Germany.” April 2, 1917.  https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=false&doc=61&page=transcript

Wilson, Woodrow. “Peace Without Victory.” January 22, 1917.  http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=3898

Wilson, Woodrow. “President Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points.” January 8, 1918.  https://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/wilson14.asp

Suggested Resources

Berg, A. Scott.  Wilson . New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2013.

Cooper, John Milton Jr.  Breaking the Heart of the World: Woodrow Wilson and the Fight for the League of Nations . Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2001.

Cooper, John Milton Jr.  The Warrior and the Priest: Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt . Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1985.

Cooper, John Milton Jr.  Woodrow Wilson: A Biography . New York: Knopf, 2009.

O’Toole, Patricia.  The Moralist: Woodrow Wilson and the World He Made . New York: Simon and Schuster, 2018.

Widenor, William C.  Henry Cabot Lodge and the Search for an American Foreign Policy . Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1980.

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HISTORIC ARTICLE

Jun 28, 1919 ce: treaty of versailles.

On June 28, 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed at the Palace of Versailles outside Paris, France.

Social Studies, U.S. History, World History

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On June 28, 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed at the Palace of Versailles outside Paris, France. The treaty was one of several that officially ended five years of conflict known as the Great War— World War I . The Treaty of Versailles outlined the conditions of peace between Germany and the victorious Allies, led by the United States, France, and the United Kingdom. Other Central Powers (significantly, Austria-Hungary) signed different treaties with the Allies.

The Treaty of Versailles is one of the most controversial armistice treaties in history. The treaty ’s so-called “war guilt” clause forced Germany and other Central Powers to take all the blame for World War I . This meant a loss of territories, reduction in military forces, and reparation payments to Allied powers.

Some historians think the Treaty of Versailles was, in the words of British economist John Maynard Keynes, “one of the most serious acts of political unwisdom for which our statesmen have ever been responsible.” They say it contributed to German economic and political instability that allowed for the formation of the National Socialists (Nazis) just a year later.

Other historians note that the Treaty of Versailles was actually very restrained—Germany and other Central Powers were not occupied by Allied forces after the war. However, it would take Germany several decades to pay off their reparations. The treaty was also much more lenient than the armistice treaty (the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk) Germany forced on Russia when that nation negotiated an exit from the war a year earlier.

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Treaty of Versailles

After the devastation of World War I, the victorious powers imposed a series of treaties upon the defeated powers. Among the treaties, the 1919 Treaty of Versailles held Germany responsible for starting the war. Germany became liable for the cost of massive material damages. The shame of defeat and the 1919 peace settlement played an important role in the rise of Nazism in Germany and the coming of a second “world war” just 20 years later.

The treaty required demilitarization of the Rhineland, the loss of 13% of Germany’s prewar territories, and extensive reparation payments by Germany.

The treaty contained a "war guilt clause." This clause held Germany completely responsible for starting World War I.

The effects of World War I and its divisive peace echoed in the decades to come, giving rise to a second world war and genocide committed under its cover.

World War I

This content is available in the following languages, background: the  impact of world war i.

World War I was one of the most destructive wars in modern history.  The opposing sides in World War I were the Entente Powers and the Central Powers.

Nearly ten million soldiers died. The enormous losses on all sides resulted in part from the introduction of new weapons like the machine gun and gas warfare. Military leaders failed to adjust their tactics to the increasingly mechanized nature of warfare. A policy of attrition, particularly on the Western Front, cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers.  

[caption=647ba4e2-8fc6-4340-9d0c-21dd535eaf42] - [credit=647ba4e2-8fc6-4340-9d0c-21dd535eaf42]

No official agencies kept careful track of civilian losses during the war years. Scholars suggest that as many as thirteen million non-combatants died as a direct or indirect result of the war. The conflict uprooted or displaced millions of persons from their homes in Europe and Asia Minor.

Property and industry losses were catastrophic, especially in France, Belgium, Poland, and Serbia, where fighting had been heaviest.

Background: The "Fourteen Points"

In January 1918, some ten months before the end of World War I, US President Woodrow Wilson had written a list of proposed war aims which he called the “ Fourteen Points .”

Eight of these points dealt specifically with territorial and political settlements to accompany a victory of the Entente Powers (Great Britain, France, and Russia). One important point was the idea of national self-determination for ethnic populations in Europe. Other points focused on preventing war in the future. The last principle proposed a League of Nations to arbitrate international disputes. Wilson hoped his proposal would bring about a just and lasting peace: a “peace without victory.”

German leaders signed the armistice (an agreement to stop fighting) in the Compiègne Forest on November 11, 1918. Many of them believed then that the Fourteen Points would form the basis of the future peace treaty. But when the heads of the governments of the United States, Great Britain, France, and Italy met in Paris to discuss treaty terms, the European countries of the “Big Four” rejected this approach.  

After the devastation of World War I, the victorious Western powers (Great Britain, the United States, France, and Italy, known as the “Big Four”) imposed a series of treaties upon the defeated Central Powers (Germany, Austria–Hungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey).

Viewing Germany as the chief instigator of the conflict, the European Allied powers decided instead to impose harsh treaty terms upon defeated Germany. The treaty was presented to the German delegation for signature on May 7, 1919, at the Palace of Versailles near Paris. The Treaty of Versailles held Germany responsible for starting the war and liable for massive material damages.

Provisions of the Versailles Treaty

Germany lost 13 percent of its territory, including 10 percent of its population.    The Treaty of Versailles forced Germany to:

• concede Eupen-Malmédy to Belgium
• concede the Hultschin district to Czechoslovakia
• concede Poznan, West Prussia, and Upper Silesia to Poland
• return Alsace and Lorraine, annexed in 1871 after the Franco-Prussian War, to France.

  The treaty called for:

• demilitarization and occupation of the Rhineland
• special status for the Saarland under French control
• referendums to determine the future of areas in northern Schleswig on the Danish-German frontier and parts of Upper Silesia on the border with Poland.

Further, all German overseas colonies were taken away from Germany and became League of Nation Mandates. The city of Danzig (today Gdansk), with its large ethnically German population, became a Free City.

Perhaps the most humiliating portion of the treaty for defeated Germany was Article 231, commonly known as the "War Guilt Clause." This clause forced the German nation to accept complete responsibility for starting World War I. As such, Germany was to be held liable for all material damages.

France's premier, Georges Clemenceau, in particular, insisted on imposing enormous reparation payments. While aware that Germany would probably not be able to pay such a towering debt, Clemenceau and the French still greatly feared rapid German recovery and a new war against France.

The French sought to limit Germany's potential to regain its economic superiority and also to rearm. The German army was to be limited to 100,000 men. Conscription was forbidden. The treaty restricted the Navy to vessels under 10,000 tons, with a ban on the acquisition or maintenance of a submarine fleet. Germany was forbidden to maintain an air force.

Finally, Germany was required to conduct war crimes proceedings against the Kaiser and other leaders for waging aggressive war. The subsequent Leipzig Trials, without the Kaiser or other significant national leaders in the dock, resulted largely in acquittals. They were widely perceived as a sham, even in Germany.

Impact of the Treaty

The harsh terms of the peace treaty did not ultimately help to settle the international disputes which had initiated World War I. On the contrary, the treaty got in the way of inter-European cooperation and intensified the underlying issues which had caused the war in the first place.

For the populations of the defeated powers—Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Bulgaria—the peace treaties came across as unfair punishment. Their governments quickly resorted to violating the military and financial terms of the treaties. This was the case whether the governments were democratic as in Germany or Austria, or authoritarian in the case of Hungary and Bulgaria. Efforts to revise and defy provisions of the peace became a key element in their foreign policies and became a destabilizing factor in international politics.

A “dictated peace?”

The newly formed German democratic government saw the Versailles Treaty as a “dictated peace” ( Diktat ). The war guilt clause, huge reparation payments, and limitations on the German military seemed particularly oppressive to most Germans. To many Germans, the treaty seemed to contradict the very first of  Wilson’s Fourteen Points, which called for transparency in peace negotiations and diplomacy. Revision of the Versailles Treaty was one of the platforms that gave radical right-wing parties in Germany such credibility to mainstream voters in the 1920s and early 1930s. Among these parties was Adolf Hitler's Nazi Party.

Promises to rearm, reclaim German territory, remilitarize the Rhineland, and regain European and world prominence after the humiliating defeat and peace appealed to ultranationalist sentiment. These promises helped some average voters to overlook the more radical tenets of Nazi ideology.

The reparations and a general inflationary period in Europe in the 1920s caused spiraling hyperinflation of the German Reichsmark by 1923. This hyperinflationary period combined with the effects of the Great Depression (beginning in 1929) to undermine the stability of the German economy. These conditions wiped out the personal savings of the middle class and led to massive unemployment. Such economic chaos contributed to social unrest and the instability of the fragile Weimar Republic .

Stab-in-the-Back Legend

Finally, the efforts of the Western European powers to marginalize Germany through the Versailles Treaty undermined and isolated German democratic leaders.

Some in the general population believed that Germany had been “stabbed in the back” by the “November criminals”—those who had helped to form the new Weimar government and negotiate the peace. Many Germans “forgot” that they had applauded  the fall of Germany’s emperor, initially welcomed parliamentary democratic reform, and celebrated the armistice. They recalled only that the German Left—commonly seen as Socialists, Communists, and Jews—had surrendered German honor to a shameful peace.

  This Dolchstosslegende (stab-in-the-back legend) helped to discredit the German socialist and liberal circles who were most committed to Germany's fragile democratic experiment. The difficulties caused by social and economic unrest in the aftermath of World War I and its peace undermined democratic solutions in Weimar Germany.

German voters ultimately found this kind of leadership in Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party.

View The Path to Nazi Genocide .

Series: The Weimar Republic

The Weimar Republic

World War I: Aftermath

World War I and its Aftermath: Key Dates

Paul von Hindenburg

Beer Hall Putsch (Munich Putsch)

Nazi Party Platform

Adolf Hitler

The Police in the Weimar Republic

Science as Salvation: Weimar Eugenics, 1919–1933

What conditions, ideologies, and ideas made the Holocaust possible?

Series: world war i.

World War I: Treaties and Reparations

Adolf Hitler and World War I: 1913–1919

Antisemitism in History: World War I

World War I and the Armenian Genocide

Switch series, critical thinking questions.

What national interests guided the terms of the Treaty?

How and why might the German public have been surprised by the terms of the Treaty?

How did conditions in Germany and Europe at the end of World War I contribute to the rise and triumph of Nazism in Germany?

How can knowledge of the events in Germany and Europe before the Nazis came to power help citizens today respond to threats of genocide and mass atrocity in the world?

Given that many historians agree that the Treaty was a major factor in setting the stage for World War II, what lessons can be taken from the choices made by the victorious Powers?

Further Reading

Boemeke, Manfred F., Gerald D. Feldman, and Elisabeth Gläser, editors. T he Treaty of Versailles: A Reassessment After 75 Years. Washington, DC: German Historical Institute, 1998.

Henig, Ruth B. Versailles and After, 1919–1933 . London: Routledge, 1995.

MacMillan, Margaret. Paris 1919: Six Months That Changed the World . New York: Random House, 2002.

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Home — Essay Samples — War — World War I — Treaty of Versailles

Essays on Treaty of Versailles

Brief description of treaty of versailles.

The Treaty of Versailles was a peace treaty signed in 1919 to officially end World War I. It imposed heavy penalties and reparations on Germany and reshaped the political landscape of Europe. The treaty is widely regarded as a significant event in modern history, with lasting implications for international relations and global politics.

Importance of Writing Essays on This Topic

Essays on the Treaty of Versailles are crucial for understanding the aftermath of World War I, the rise of nationalism, and the conditions that led to World War II. They also provide an opportunity for critical analysis, historical interpretation, and the development of strong writing and research skills.

Tips on Choosing a Good Topic

• Consider focusing on the treaty's impact on Germany and its role in shaping future conflicts.
• Explore the political, economic, and social repercussions of the treaty on European countries.
• Examine the diplomatic negotiations and power dynamics that influenced the terms of the treaty.

Essay Topics

• The impact of the Treaty of Versailles on the Weimar Republic
• The role of nationalism in the negotiation and aftermath of the treaty
• The economic consequences of the reparations imposed on Germany
• The political repercussions of the treaty on European countries
• The influence of the treaty on the rise of fascism in Europe
• A reflective analysis of the treaty's long-term effects on global politics
• The diplomatic negotiations and power dynamics that shaped the terms of the treaty
• An argumentative essay on whether the treaty was fair and just
• The role of the United States in the negotiation and signing of the treaty
• The significance of the treaty in shaping modern international relations

Concluding Thought

Writing essays on the Treaty of Versailles offers a valuable opportunity to engage with a pivotal moment in history, analyze its impact, and develop a deeper understanding of the complexities of international diplomacy and conflict resolution. By exploring this topic through essays, students and scholars can contribute to ongoing conversations about the treaty's significance and legacy.

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Overview of The Causes of World War Ii

The role of the treaty of versailles, the nazi campaign election and wall street crash in hitler’s rise to power, review on the world war i, the shot heard round the world: cause of the first world war, nothing could save the world from the second world war, personal response on the causes of world war two, the treaty of versailles, the league of nations, and appeasement as the causes of world war ii, what were the underlying causes of world war i: chain reaction of events, the impact of the treaty of versailles on germany and the rise of adolf hitler, relevant topics.

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Practice questions - Treaty of Versailles

Treaty of Versailles practice questions. Here are 6 questions related to The Treaty of Versailles. Write down your answers and when you are finished click answer. When you have finished choose another topic to be tested on.

• Clemenceau, Wilson and Lloyd George were present at the Paris Peace conference. How did what they wanted to achieve from the treaty differ?
• How did the Treaty of Versailles effect Germany?
• What are your views on the Treaty of Versailles?
• How was the Treaty of Versailles similar to the other peace treaties?
• What were Woodrow Wilson's 14 points? (give some examples to support your answer)

Contemporary opinions

Impact of the treaty of versailles, introduction to the treaty of versailles, other treaties, the big three, woodrow wilson's 14 points.

The Rise of Adolf Hitler: a Complex Path to Power

This essay is about Adolf Hitler’s rise to power, examining the factors that contributed to his ascent. It discusses the impact of the Treaty of Versailles and the economic turmoil of the Weimar Republic, which created a climate of despair and disillusionment in Germany. Hitler’s oratory skills, political strategies, and propaganda helped him gain support. Key events like the Beer Hall Putsch, the Great Depression, and his appointment as Chancellor in 1933 were pivotal. The essay highlights how Hitler consolidated power through the Reichstag Fire, the Enabling Act, and the Night of the Long Knives, transforming Germany into a totalitarian state and setting the stage for World War II and the Holocaust.

How it works

Adolf Hitler’s ascent to authority stands as one of the most pivotal and unsettling episodes in contemporary annals. His elevation was not an abrupt event but rather a gradual progression fueled by an array of socio-political dynamics, economic tumult, and Hitler’s own Machiavellian political maneuvers. Comprehending this ascendancy necessitates a thorough exploration of the intricate interplay of post-World War I circumstances, the shortcomings of the Weimar Republic, and Hitler’s compelling charisma.

The aftermath of the Great War laid the groundwork for Hitler’s rise.

Germany found itself disgraced and financially crippled by the Treaty of Versailles, which exacted severe reparations and territorial concessions. This treaty bred widespread animosity among Germans, who harbored feelings of betrayal and indignation. The Weimar Republic, established in 1919, was perceived as feeble and ineffectual in addressing the economic and social crises afflicting the nation. Hyperinflation in the early 1920s decimated the savings of countless middle-class Germans, while the onset of the Great Depression in 1929 exacerbated unemployment and economic instability. In such an atmosphere of despondency and disillusionment, extremist political ideologies found a receptive audience.

Adolf Hitler, once an obscure Austrian artist and veteran of the Great War, aligned himself with the German Workers’ Party in 1919, later rebranded as the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP), or Nazi Party. Hitler’s eloquence and propaganda prowess swiftly catapulted him to a leadership role. He pledged to restore Germany’s former glory, repudiate the Treaty of Versailles, and combat the perceived menace of communism and Jewish influence.

His oratorical prowess struck a chord with many Germans who yearned for change.

The thwarted Beer Hall Putsch of 1923 marked a turning point for Hitler. Though the coup attempt to overthrow the Weimar government failed and led to his imprisonment, it bestowed upon him national notoriety. During his nine-month incarceration, Hitler penned “Mein Kampf,” delineating his ideological vision for Germany, including his anti-Semitic convictions and the concept of Lebensraum, or living space, which justified German expansionism. This period allowed Hitler to refine his strategy, transitioning from violent revolution to attaining power through legitimate political means.

The Great Depression played a pivotal role in Hitler’s ascent. The economic collapse precipitated mass unemployment and deepened public discontent with the Weimar Republic. The Nazi Party, which promised economic recovery, social stability, and national rejuvenation, garnered significant support. In the 1930 elections, the Nazis emerged as the second-largest party in the Reichstag, Germany’s parliament. By 1932, they had become the largest party, albeit without an outright majority.

Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor on January 30, 1933, stemmed from political maneuvering and the underestimation of his resolve by conservative politicians who believed they could manipulate him. President Paul von Hindenburg and other conservative leaders believed that by integrating Hitler into the government, they could leverage his popularity to stabilize the country while keeping him in check. This miscalculation proved catastrophic.

Upon assuming power, Hitler swiftly moved to consolidate his authority. The Reichstag Fire in February 1933, which the Nazis attributed to communists, provided a pretext for the Reichstag Fire Decree, suspending civil liberties and enabling the arrest of political adversaries. The Enabling Act, ratified in March 1933, bestowed dictatorial powers upon Hitler by authorizing him to enact laws without parliamentary approval. Leveraging these powers, Hitler dismantled democratic institutions, quashed opposition, and established a totalitarian regime.

Hitler’s consolidation of power also entailed the alignment and control of key state apparatuses. The Night of the Long Knives in 1934 witnessed the purge of the SA’s leadership, perceived as a threat to Hitler’s authority. This purge solidified the loyalty of the German military, which had regarded the SA with suspicion. Upon President Hindenburg’s demise in August 1934, Hitler merged the positions of Chancellor and President, proclaiming himself Führer and seizing absolute control over Germany.

Propaganda and indoctrination played pivotal roles in sustaining Hitler’s grip on power. Joseph Goebbels, the Minister of Propaganda, orchestrated extensive campaigns to disseminate Nazi ideology and glorify Hitler. The regime controlled the media, arts, and education to propagate its doctrines and suppress dissent. The Hitler Youth and League of German Girls were established to indoctrinate young Germans and ensure the allegiance of future generations.

In summation, Hitler’s ascent to power was a multifaceted process influenced by Germany’s post-World War I milieu, economic instability, the vulnerabilities of the Weimar Republic, and Hitler’s own political acumen and ruthless tactics. His adept exploitation of German despair and resentment, coupled with strategic political maneuvers and effective propaganda, enabled him to transfigure Germany into a totalitarian state. The repercussions of his rise were catastrophic, precipitating World War II and the Holocaust, which left an indelible imprint on history. Understanding the factors that facilitated Hitler’s ascent is imperative in averting similar travails in the future and ensuring that the lessons of history endure.

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