The treaty of Versailles
Table of Contents
- Introduction.
- Context.
- Drawing the treaty presented a number of complications.
- The confusing situation in Europe.
- Terms.
- Territorial clauses.
- Military clauses.
- Economic and financial clauses.
- Political and judicial clauses.
- Effects of the treaty: Germany's reaction.
- Conclusion.
- Bibilography.
SummaryWorld War I (1914-1918) left the European continent completely devastated (especially France and Belgium). Human and material losses were massive. Indeed, about 10 million lives had been lost during the war. In order to prevent this nightmare from happens again, the victorious powers (the "Big Four") represented by David Lloyd George for Great Britain, Woodrow Wilson for the USA, Georges Clemenceau for France and Vittorio Orlando for Italy (who played a smaller role) decided to meet for a peace conference in Paris. Their aim was to settle a new world order. First of all, they had to redraw the map of Europe (Keylor 1996 p74): delimitate the frontiers (new Europe) and divide the large gaps created by the collapse of Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire. Then, they wanted to ensure peace in the world. To do so, the "Big Four" agreed to entirely control and weaken Germany (especially militarily) and to introduce the League of Nations (Wilson's greatest success). Hence, the notion of collective security emerged: if one country was attacked, the other ones would guarantee protection against the persecutor.
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