Armistice: (definition) a temporary suspension of hostilities by agreement of the warring parties; (sentence) The armistice signed on November 11, 1918, marked the end of World War I.
Treaty: (definition) a formally concluded and ratified agreement between countries; (sentence) The Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919 to officially end World War I.
Delegate: (definition) a person sent or authorized to represent others, in particular an elected representative sent to a conference; (sentence) The delegates from thirty countries gathered in Versailles to negotiate peace terms after World War I.
League: (definition) an association or alliance of states, organizations, or individuals for common action; (sentence) Woodrow Wilson proposed the creation of the League of Nations as a way to prevent future wars.
The Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations
On November 11, 1918, an armistice was declared, ending World War I. In 1919, Presiderit Woodrow Wilson went to Versailles for peace negotiations. He wanted to do more than just solve the issues left from World War I; he dreamed of ending all wars forever. In Europe, he was greeted by huge crowds. American newspapers sent their best writers to cover the conference. As delegates from thirty countries gathered in the city to draw up the Treaty of Versailles, laying out peace terms, it appeared there would be plenty of news for them to cover.
The Paris Peace Conference
Thirty was too lange a number for negotiating, so it was recuced to the Council of Ten, then the Council of Four (U.S., England, France, Italy), and then the Council of Three (U.S., England, France). The doors were closed, and reporters got only brief statements of what was going on inside. Italy's Orlando wanted to take land from Austria, England's Lloyd George wanted German colonies, and France's Clemenceau wanted to cripple Germany so badly she would not be able to fight again for many years. Wilson, the American idealist, wanted to make the world "sale for democracy." He urged the leaders to accept his idea for a League of Nations and make it part of the Treaty of Versailles
Lloyd George and Clemenceau were lukewarm on the League of Nations idea, but Wilson regarded the League as the most critical part of their work. Despite their opinion to the contrary, he would not allow it to be separated from the rest of the treaty. When he returned home, he tried to invince the Senate that the League was essential, but many did not like what they saw. Senator enry Cabot Lodge wrote the Round Robin resolution, which said that the League in ils existing form was unacceptable
When Wilson returned to France, he found that Clemenceau wanted changes made in the treaty. He wanted Germany to pay for pensions for French soldiers, and he wanted to take German territory to the Rhine River. Both Wilson's battles with Clemenceau and the fu were draining to his health. He had to give in to Italian demands for the port city of Fiume (at the northern tip ol the Adriatic Sea) and to Japanese demands for Shantung In June of 1919. Germany signed the Versailles Treaty agreeing its (1) would be disarmed, (2) had to sign a blank check for French pensions, and (3) had to take allithe blame for creating the war. They protested, but they had no choice except to sigm,
United States Rejects Treaty of Versailles and League of Nations
Wison eturned home and placed his treaty before the Senate, Instead of acting quickyLhe
Senale referred it to the Foreign Felations Committee, chaired by Wilson's enemy, Senator Lodge The Senate was divided bythree opinions, Internationalists wanted the treaty to be accepted without changes. Reservationists were willing to accept the treaty, but with major changes. Irreconcilables opposed the League of Nations in any form.
Wilson took his League to the American people and went on a nationwde speasing our.
His health worsened, and he rushed back to Washington, D.C, where he suffered a paralytic stroke. He refused is cive in to sungested changes in the ronty Without compromise, the benalt friected the treaty Wison wanted the League ci Nations to be the big campaign issue ol 1920 it the public had tred of the subject, and Warren Harping, a Republican, was elected presiden by a vote of 18 million to 9 million
directions
Complete the graphic organizer for the terms listed below. Write a definition for each word and use it in a sentence. Use an online or print dictionary if you need help.
Armistice: (definition) & ( sentence)
Treaty: (definition) & ( sentence)
Delegate: (definition) & ( sentence)
League: (definition) & ( sentence)
1 answer