Replying to Putter (again). There were several reasons why Wilson was unsuccessful. Firstly and most importantly the people of the USA did not want to remain involved with European (or world) affairs. The USA was a reluctant contributor to WWI in the first place in terms of fighting and as it joined late it did not suffer the casualties that the others did. However, the war was expensive to the USA and many felt this did not benefit America. Congress felt that the Treaty of Versailles was nothing like the 14 points that Wilson had used to bring the war to an end and saw that it would cause further problems. It also saw that Britain and France were much weaker than in the past and recognised that if the USA joined the League then it would effectively be leading it (as it does the UN today!). In the 1920s the USA did not want this role of becoming the 'policeman of the world'. (interestingly it is more comfortable with that role now). ALso the USA was booming in the early 1920s and so many Americans felt that it could do very well on its own without getting invovlved in disputes around the world where it would not gain anything and it would be expensive. Finally perhaps the fact that Wilson himself was in ill health (and died quickly) was important. He was the one who really believed in the League and after he was gone other leaders had other priorities.
1918-1922 End of WWI and the Peace Settlements Short term consequences of the end of WWI •Treaty of Versailles •Germany + Soviet Union not allowed to join •Germany have to pay harsh reparations – lowers their living standard •Germany have no money to recover from War •Germans wanted revenge for being unfairly treated and being blamed for causing the war •Europe was in ruin •American came into help and provided money to boost trade – became police of the world •Trade was affected •Britain, France + Belgium received reparation money from Germany •Hitler came to power as the Germans wanted revenge and Hitler said he will grant them their wishes •Wilson came up with ‘The Fourteen Points’ which aims to build a better + more peaceful world •Imposed by the Treaty of Versailles on the allies to get them to disarm and pay reparations •Treaty of St. Germain 1919- dealt with Austria Austria lost territories, limited army size and got separated from Hungary (Austria no longer a leading power) •Treaty of Neuilly 1919- dealt with Bulgaria lost lands and lost access to the Mediterranean, limit forces + pay high reparations •Treaty of Trianon 1920- deal with Hungary •Treaty of Sevres, 1920- dealt with Turkey •All of the above nations did not disarm, only Germany did •Germany felt it was unfair that they were the only one who had to disarm so they rearmed again
Putter, this is excellent. THe only real things missing are to mention the setting up of the League of Nations and the fact that the USA chose not to join it nad that Russia had now become a communist country. By 1921 the Bolsheviks had won the civil war and turned Russia ino the USSR. THis was important for the rest of the 20th C.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteReplying to Putter (again). There were several reasons why Wilson was unsuccessful. Firstly and most importantly the people of the USA did not want to remain involved with European (or world) affairs. The USA was a reluctant contributor to WWI in the first place in terms of fighting and as it joined late it did not suffer the casualties that the others did. However, the war was expensive to the USA and many felt this did not benefit America. Congress felt that the Treaty of Versailles was nothing like the 14 points that Wilson had used to bring the war to an end and saw that it would cause further problems. It also saw that Britain and France were much weaker than in the past and recognised that if the USA joined the League then it would effectively be leading it (as it does the UN today!). In the 1920s the USA did not want this role of becoming the 'policeman of the world'. (interestingly it is more comfortable with that role now). ALso the USA was booming in the early 1920s and so many Americans felt that it could do very well on its own without getting invovlved in disputes around the world where it would not gain anything and it would be expensive. Finally perhaps the fact that Wilson himself was in ill health (and died quickly) was important. He was the one who really believed in the League and after he was gone other leaders had other priorities.
ReplyDeletePutter's question was why couldn't Wilson persuade the USA to join the League of Nations?
ReplyDelete1918-1922 End of WWI and the Peace Settlements
ReplyDeleteShort term consequences of the end of WWI
•Treaty of Versailles
•Germany + Soviet Union not allowed to join
•Germany have to pay harsh reparations – lowers their living standard
•Germany have no money to recover from War
•Germans wanted revenge for being unfairly treated and being blamed for causing the war
•Europe was in ruin
•American came into help and provided money to boost trade – became police of the world
•Trade was affected
•Britain, France + Belgium received reparation money from Germany
•Hitler came to power as the Germans wanted revenge and Hitler said he will grant them their wishes
•Wilson came up with ‘The Fourteen Points’ which aims to build a better + more peaceful world
•Imposed by the Treaty of Versailles on the allies to get them to disarm and pay reparations
•Treaty of St. Germain 1919- dealt with Austria Austria lost territories, limited army size and got separated from Hungary (Austria no longer a leading power)
•Treaty of Neuilly 1919- dealt with Bulgaria lost lands and lost access to the Mediterranean, limit forces + pay high reparations
•Treaty of Trianon 1920- deal with Hungary
•Treaty of Sevres, 1920- dealt with Turkey
•All of the above nations did not disarm, only Germany did
•Germany felt it was unfair that they were the only one who had to disarm so they rearmed again
Putter, this is excellent. THe only real things missing are to mention the setting up of the League of Nations and the fact that the USA chose not to join it nad that Russia had now become a communist country. By 1921 the Bolsheviks had won the civil war and turned Russia ino the USSR. THis was important for the rest of the 20th C.
ReplyDelete