Treaty of Trianon 1920 - Hungary
Lost much of population and territories to Romania, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia.
Industry suffered greatly.
Treaty of Neuilly 1919 - Bulgaria
Treaty less harshly (small part).
Lost land to Greece, Romania and Yugoslavia.
Lost access to the Mediterranean.
Treaty of Serves 1920 - Turkey
Lost control of straights running to Black Sea.
Lost land to Greece and mandates. Countries from former empire taken away e.g. Egypt - Independent or Mandated.
Roles of the Big Three
Clemenceau (France)
Wanted to cripple Germany so it couldn't attack France again.
France had suffered the most during the war so Clemenceau was under great pressure to make Germany pay.
Wanted Germany broken down into smaller states (weakened).
Wilson (USA)
Wanted a better and more peaceful world.
He was idealistic - proposed League of Nations.
USA had joined war late (1917) and hadn't suffered much.
Set up 14 points but had to sacrifice them for league.
Believed in self-determination.
Lloyd George (UK)
Wanted Germany to be justly punished but not too harshly.
Germany to lose navy and colonies as these were a threat to Britain's.
Wanted Germany and Britain to trade again.
Didn't want Germany seeking revenge in the future.
Pressure at home to make Germany pay - elected promising this.
The Impact on Germany
German people were horrified - the fact that they had to accept blame for starting the war lead to the huge reparation bill.
Germany lost 10% of land, 12.5% population all overseas colonies and many raw materials.
At first Germany refused to sign and sunk ships in protest.
Economy was in a mess so reparations would cripple people.
Army was a symbol of pride - felt it unfair no one else disarmed.
Lost money as a result of loss of territories.
Insulted that it wasn't invited to join the League of Nations.
Germany felt not in keeping with Wilson's 14 points - self determination.
Germany fell behind on reparations in 1922.
1923 French and Belgium troops took what was owed.
German government ordered strike but French killed 100 workers.
No goods so government printed more money à hyperinflation.
Also criticised by big three: Clemenceau - not harsh enough.
Wilson - disappointed and US didn't approve it.
Lloyd George - received heroes welcome back but said it would lead to another war.
Contemporary Opinions
People now realize how unfair it was
Reparation bill was too high
Like Lloyd George suggested it did lead to another war
Big three all had the same aim of peace but they had different ways of going about it
What Britain and France wanted were both very different so they could not both get what they wanted
All the big three had to compromise on their ideas especially Wilson's 14 points
Woodrow Wilson’s 14 Points
1. No secret treaties
2. Free access to the sea in peace time and war time
3. Free trade between countries
4. Disarmament
5. Colonies to have a say in their future
6. German troops to leave Russia
7. Independence for Belgium
8. France to regain Alsace-Lourraine
9. Frontier between Austria and Italy to be adjusted
10. Self determination for the people of eastern Europe
11. Serbia to have access to the sea
12. Self determination for the people in the Turkish Empire
13. Poland to become an independent state with access to the sea
14. League of Nations to be set up
THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS
Structure of the League
Introduction
President Wilson's 14th point.
Aim to solve international problems peacefully, improve social conditions, and to ensure justice is done.
All major countries to join and disarm.
Disputes to be taken to league and protect each other if invaded.
When league opened America did not join because of problems.
Set up in Geneva (Switzerland).
Structure of the league
Council:
Met 5 times per year + in emergencies.
Sorting out disputes.
Use discussion, military force and moral condemnation.
Had veto to stop decisions being made.
Assembly:
Met yearly.
Recommended action to council and voted on: new members, new temporary members, budget and other ideas. Every country had a representative there.
Permanent cause of international justice.
Based at the Haig.
Made up of judges to give legal advice but no real power.
Can make decisions on border disputes.
International labour organisation.
Met once a year.
Aim to improve working conditions / collected statistics.
Mandates Commission:
Made sure Britain and France acted on interests of mandated countries.
Refugee Committee
Helped return refugees after first world war.
Health Committee
Educate people and deal with diseases.
Slavery commission
Main aim was to abolish slavery.
Aims and objectives
Discourage aggression
Encourage cooperation (i.e. trade)
Encourage disarmament
Improve social conditions
Why America didn’t join
Although the League of Nations was much of the work of President Woodrow Wilson America never joined the League of Nations. This was for several reasons, firstly America had suffered civilian casualties in the war, and many people citizens in the USA wanted to keep America out of European affairs. This policy was called isolationism and was probably the main reason that America didn't join the League. Also joining the league meant that this might involve having to do things that might set back the economy or damage America otherwise. For instance sending out soldiers out to other parts of the globe would be a very costly venture and there would probably be casualties as well. There was also the fact that America had had little involvement in the war and had some civilians (especially German immigrants) also had little or no support for British or French policies and/or the Treaty of Versailles. So although when the League was actually being formed Woodrow Wilson still backed America joining it, by this time America had had enough of wars and dealing with other countries problems and, despite Wilson America never joined the League.
