Treaty Objectives of President Wilson
U.S. President Woodrow Wilson was a proponent of “moral diplomacy.” He was an idealist who
believed that international disputes should be resolved through negotiation and compromise, not war.
At the end of WWI, he called for “peace without victory” and urged the Allies to create a treaty that
would ensure world peace and not punish Germany too harshly. He outlined his goals for peace in
1918, in his “Fourteen Points” speech to Congress. His speech called or the end of secret diplomacy
(when countries would negotiate in secret), freedom of the seas for all nations at all times, reducing
barriers to trade between countries, a reduction in armaments (military forces and weapons), an
impartial handling of colonial disputes, allowing Poland to become an independent state, and the
evacuation of German forces from Russia, Belgium, and France in order to promote countries to
decide for themselves if they want to be independent from larger nations. Most importantly, the last of
his Fourteen Points called for the establishment of an association of nations to guarantee world peace.
This League of Nations, Wilson hoped, would protect weak countries and resolve disputes among
strong countries. He envisioned a new world order, one devoted to justice and rule of law.
Treaty Priority
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Treaty Term
Reasons for Priority Item
Treaty Objectives of European Powers
Prior to WWI, hostilities among the European nations went back centuries into their history. During
the war, France, Great Britain, and Italy all suffered directly from German aggression. The European
powers held Germany responsible for the countless deaths and destruction caused by the war, and
called for revenge and punishment. The Europeans wanted a treaty in which Germany was held
accountable for all acts of war and believed that the United States was being too lenient to Germany,
perhaps because they had fewer losses in the war that took place in Europe. In particular, European
powers wanted to be sure Germany would not be able to take aggressive action against them in the
future. The French, for example, wanted to establish buffer zone between France and Germany to
increase French security against future German attacks. All the European powers hoped to create a
treaty that would protect their national interests, extend their power, and allow them to gain further
wealth. They hoped to do this by establishing control of Germany’s colonies and claiming the land
Germany lost prior to and during the war.
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Treaty Term
Reasons for Priority Item
Create Your Own Peace Treaty
With your group, negotiate a peace treaty to end WWI. First, both sides should explain their top six terms
and reasons for ranking them as important. Then, from each side’s chosen terms, chose six final terms that
you can both agree on for your treaty. You may modify the terms or write new terms that suit both sides.
Record your treaty terms in the space below (Everyone in the group must write it down)
Treaty of Versailles
The High Contracting Parties, in order to promote international co- operation and to achieve international peace
and security, do agree to the following:
Section I: ____________________________________________________________________________________
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Section II: ____________________________________________________________________________________
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Section III: ____________________________________________________________________________________
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Section IV: ____________________________________________________________________________________
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Section V: ____________________________________________________________________________________
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Section VI: ____________________________________________________________________________________
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Signed,
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Representing Woodrow Wilson
Representing European Powers