Essay on President Wilson and the Treaty of Versailles

President Wilson and the Treaty of Versailles President Wilson’s righteous views of his efforts were so strong that not even the advice and urging of his closest confidants could sway his stance. While it is true that opposition forces helped to defeat the treaty, it was ultimately Wilson’s stubbornness that led to its defeat in the Senate. There were many factors that led to the initial outbreak of World War I in Europe. A constant struggle to gain the upper hand in the â€Å"balance of power† existed, and it resulted in the formation of many alliances between European nations. For the most part, these agreements stipulated that the nations would aid one another if one of them were to be attacked by an enemy. Eventually two distinct†¦show more content†¦The United States, tied to British trade, and supporters of their system of democracy, broke their official neutrality policy that dated back to the days of George Washington and joined the Allied powers. U.S. support would prove to be enough of a boost to strike down the Central Powers’ attack, and it also signaled America’s entrance into the peace negotiations that followed. During a speech to Congress while the war was still going on, President Woodrow Wilson introduced his â€Å"Fourteen Points,† which called for a new Europe and a peaceful world. Ideas expressed in the speech included a policy of open diplomacy with no secret treaties, freedom of the seas, removal of tariffs, arms reduction, fair colonial policies, as well as several boundary changes in Europe. But most important of all was point fourteen. This item called for â€Å"a general association of nations for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity to great and small states alike.† This association, which would come to be known as the League of Nations, was conceived by the idealistic Wilson to keep the peace after the war and to promote open diplomacy between countries of varying types of size and power. In order to maintain peace the league was to be given the authority to impose economic sanctions against offending state s, and itShow MoreRelatedThe United States Vs. The Treaty Of Versailles960 Words   |  4 Pages â€Å"The United States vs. the Treaty of Versailles† The Treaty of Versailles was a peace settlement between Germany and the Allied Powers signed on June 28, 1919. The Treaty of Versailles officially ended World War 1. However, since the conditions in the treaty were so punitive towards Germany many believe that it was also partly responsible for starting World War 2. Before the treaty was signed President Woodrow Wilson and his opponent in congress, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge debated over the membershipRead MoreEssay about 1991 Apush Dbq667 Words   |  3 Pagesaftermath of World War I, during the years 1917-1921, President Wilson advocated the Treaty of Versailles, which called for the principle of self-determination, the formation of a League of Nations, and general amnesty towards Germany, as the solution for peace. However, his unwillingness to compromise led to widespread disagreement. The opposition forces in the U.S. senate consisted of the reservationists, who were willing to ratify the Treaty of Versailles with amendments, an d the irreconcilables, whoRead MoreWorld War I Predicted as the War to End all Wars847 Words   |  3 Pagesall wars.† President Woodrow Wilson was the primary leader to achieve this goal with his 14 Points making and keeping the peace in the world. Albeit the Treaty of Versailles amalgamated many of Wilson’s points, it struggled to be ratified in the Senate. The defeat of the Treaty of Versailles was largely due to the Senate and popular opposition of the treaty. Some might argue that President Wilson’s actions and mindset was moderately to blame for the failure of the Treaty of Versailles to persuadeRead MoreThe Treaty of Versailles1684 Words   |  7 PagesInvestigation The Treaty of Versailles was created to bring peace between nations after WWI. This investigation will answer the following question: To what extent did the Treaty of Versailles bring peace? In this investigation, the extent of the Versailles Treaty’s success will be evaluated by examining the period of its development, 1918, to the rise of Hitler, 1933. Several sources were used in this investigation including a number of books that look at the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and the reactionsRead MoreEssay Woodrow Wilson and The Treaty of Versailles815 Words   |  4 PagesWoodrow Wilson and The Treaty of Versailles Woodrow Wilson, Premier Clemenceau, Prime Minister Lloyd George and Premier Orlando started the Versailles Treaty committee. Wilson worked to win the Senates consent of the Treaty of Versailles when he returned to America in July of 1919. Basically the treaty forced on Germany the burden of reparations, and to take complete blame for the war. Woodrow Wilson felt that the treaty was too harsh, placing unrealistic goals on Germany. Wilson wanted toRead MoreThe Treaty Of Versailles Ended World War I1498 Words   |  6 PagesFrom 1914 to 1918, the world was overshadowed by a horrific war-World War 1. The Treaty of Versailles ended World War 1 with the hopes of no more wars in the future, however nobody expected it to be to foundation of the next catastrophe in Europe-World War 2. World War One that lasted from 1914-1918 was one of the most horrific wars in history. Europe was devastated and covered in a veil of anger and bitterness. Millions of people died or were wounded. Many cities in Europe were completely destroyedRead MoreTreaty Of Versailles Easy Assignment1347 Words   |  6 PagesTreaty of Versailles Easy Assignment Ultimately, the international community and The Treaty of Versailles played an exponential roll in the onset of WW2 by putting too harsh of conditions on Germany. The Treaty of Versailles forced Germany to take complete blame for WWI, practically abolished the German Military, ruined the German economy, caused the loss of land, and caused countless other damages to the country. Thus upsetting and angering the German people. As the war came to an end, the stateRead More Woodrow Wilson and World War I Essay983 Words   |  4 PagesWhat role did Woodrow Wilson have in World War I? Woodrow Wilson, our 23rd president, became involved in a war that he did not want any part of. Wilson wanted to remain neutral and have peace as in his first term of office. During World War I Wilson’s roles in the war became well known in all countries. Wilson wanted peace more than anything else. In seeking for peace Wilson asked Congress for the U.S. to enter World War I. which may not sound like a peace strategy but Wilson felt it was the onlyRead MoreTreaty Of Versailles Essay975 Words   |  4 PagesThe Versailles treaty was the peace settlement between Germany and the Allied powers that eventually ended world war one. Even Though it ended this war the treaty of Versailles was hated by many American and Germany. Germany made many threats to the Allied powers. The passing of the Treaty of Versailles resulted in unpopular backlash from both Germany and America. France, Italy, Britain and the U.S. met at the Capitol to talk about the terms of peace for the post war. Germany thought this was unfairRead MoreTaking a Look at the Paris Conference962 Words   |  4 PagesBefore World War I the notion of a world war was unfathomable; therefore, when an armistice was finally agreed upon in 1918, President Woodrow Wilson immediately formulated a peace proposal that aspired to prevent such hysteria from ever happening again. The document, know as The Fourteen Points, established the basis of a peace treaty and the foundation of a League of Nations, which was a â€Å"general association of nations... formed under specific covenants for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees