Paris Peace Conference: The Big Three's Aims

Aims of the Big Three at the Paris Peace Conference

• The major players were France, Britain, and the USA
• France wanted to weaken and humiliate Germany, make them pay reparations, and ensure French security
• Britain wanted Germany to be punished, but not too harshly, to maintain trade and rebuild British prosperity
• The USA wanted self-determination for the people and world peace, attained via disarmament and the League of Nations

Why The Big Three Had Differing Aims at the Paris Peace Conference

• France had suffered greatly in World War I, with most of the fighting occurring on French soil
• Britain had not suffered as much as France, as the fighting did not take place on British soil
• The USA did not suffer any damage

Terms of the Treaty of Versailles

• Germany had to accept total blame for starting the war, known as the War Guilt Clause
• Germany had to pay 6.6 billion pounds as reparations to the Allies for war damage
• Germany lost 10% of its land and 12.5% of its population
• Germany was forbidden to make alliances with Austria to form an Anschluss
• Germany had to give up its overseas colonies
• The army was limited to 100,000 men
• Conscription was banned; soldiers had to be volunteers
• No armoured vehicles, submarines or aircraft were allowed
• The navy could have only six battleships
• The border area between Germany and France, the Rhineland, was demilitarised
• League of Nations was set up to help countries resolve disputes and enforce decisions
• Germany was not allowed to join

Whether Aims of the Big Three Were Met by the Paris Peace Conference

• The War Guilt Clause, reparations, and armed forces clauses met France's aims of weakening and humiliating Germany and ensuring French security
• The reparations clause did not meet Britain's aim to keep Germany wealthy enough to continue to trade with Britain
• The reparations, War Guilt Clause, and territory clauses met public sentiments
• The armed forces clause met Britain's aim of ensuring security by limiting the size of the German navy
• The Territory Changes clauses did not meet the USA's aim of self-determination for countries, and the aim of attaining world peace
• The treaty of Versailles failed to meet USA's aim of moderate reparations from Germany

Impact of the Treaty of Versailles on Germany

• The War Guilt Clause led to high reparations, negatively impacting the German economy, leading to hyperinflation
• The War Guilt Clause justify territorial losses and impacted German pride and the economy
• Reparations led to the Ruhr Crisis in 1923 when France and Belgium occupied Germany and led to hyperinflation, causing economic hardship and political instability Demilitarisation led to national humiliation, left the country vulnerable to attacks, and led to resentment
• Territorial reductions impacted German pride and prevented unification with Austria, affecting German economy

Impact of the Treaty of Versailles on Europe

• The peace settlements led to a breakdown of old empires
• The treaty led to self-determination of some groups
• The Treaty of Versailles divided ethnic groups into different countries and led to tensions

If The League of Nations Was Successful At Collective Security In The 1920's

• The League of Nations successfully handled the dispute in Upper Silesia in 1921 and prevented war
• The League of Nations successfully stopped the aggressor country and protected Bulgaria during the Greek-Bulgarian border dispute in 1925
• The League of Nations failed in Vilna in 1920
• The League of Nations failed in Corfu in 1923