The Treaty of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles was intended to be a peace agreement between the Allies and the Germans, instead with the harsh end terms for Germany, it created political and economic chaos in Germany. By the end of the First World War, Germany had surrendered and signed a peace agreement. The task of forming a peace agreement was now in the hands of the Allies. In December of 1918, the Allies met in Versailles to start on the peace settlement. The main countries and their representatives were: The United States, Woodrow Wilson; Great Britain, David Lloyd George; and France, George Clemenceau. It had seemed that making peace agreement would be fairly simple. Once they started, the Allies began having different ideas about the wording of the Treaty of Versailles. The Allies found themselves in another battle. The Peace Treaty of Versailles represented the results of hostility and revenge and opened the door for a dictator and World War II.

When World War I began there was no question that the United States would remain neutral. The United States, President Woodrow Wilson didn't want to enter the European War or any other war for that matter. However as the war continued, it became obvious that the United States would no longer sit on the sidelines. German submarines had sunk American tankers and the British liner, Lusitania, killing almost twelve hundred people, including 128 Americans. This convinced Wilson to enter World War I, on the allied side. As the war continued, Wilson outlined his peace program, which was based on fourteen main points. Wilson was more interested in peace than capturing German colonies. Nevertheless as the Allies began discussions of the peace treaty, the European allies rejected Wilson's ideas and reasoning. This soon saw the allies seeking revenge and Germany to be hurt economically and socially by its enemies.

Britain and Germany were always rivals. Before the war, Germany challenged Britain's famous powerful and unstoppable navy by increasing the amount of money spent on their navy. Britain paid thirty-six percent of the debt incurred by the allies and seventeen percent of the war's total casualties. After the war, Britain faced tough economic problems. Their exports were at an all time low due to outdated factories, high tariffs, and competition from other countries. The Treaty of Versailles would provide an opportunity to seek revenge for their losses. They also wanted German colonies in Africa. Both Britain and France had a rivalry with Germany but the French's ill feelings were even more intensive.

Nationalism created tensions between France and Germany. The French resented their defeat in the Franco - Prussian War and wanted revenge. France was determined to take Alsace Ð'- Lorraine back from Germany and regain some of its pride. This gave the French the motivation of increasing their military strength and ultimately, destroying their life-long enemies. After the war, France suffered terribly, economically. Inflation and a deflated French Franc encouraged the French to take advantage of the peace settlement. France wanted revenge as well as security against any future German attack. France also wanted a huge amount of reparations, and the return of Alsace Ð'- Lorraine.

All the leaders had different opinions and motives regarding the Treaty of Versailles. Coming to an understanding was difficult. The Treaty had to be revised several times before the final copy was signed on January 18, 1919. There was scarcely a section of the treaty which was not attacked and demands of change to be made by the leaders. The German's did not want to agree to such harsh terms. France and Britain wanted revenge on Germany but wanted each other's benefits. Clemenceau pointed out that the British were making no effort to placate the Germans at the expense of British interests. They offered no proposals to reduce the number of German ships to be handed over, or to return Germany's colonies, or to restore the German Navy, or to remove the restrictions on Germany's overseas trade. Instead, it was always at the expense of French interest that concessions were to be made. This was due to David Lloyd George's aim to keep Germany moderately punished but still keep them as a trading partner. Wilson thought that both France and Britain were being too harsh and unreasonable.

The allies used Wilson's Fourteen Points program to convince Germany to sign an armistice. However, once Germany complied, these points were ignored. The French, for example, had no intention of abandoning what Wilson castigated as the old diplomacy, with its secret understandings and interlocking alliances. In the end, the European Allies, including France and Britain, received what they wanted from the treaty. With mostly France and some of Britain's motives to see Germany become a non country, there was the need for Germany to pay such huge reparations. Germany had the guilt of the entire war, and the huge reparations of 132 billion. Germany also lost one eighth of its land, all of its colonies, all of its overseas financial