FCPS World II SOL Standards: WHII 10a and 10b
World War I-Results (1919)
You Mean the War Ended in a Royal Palace in France?
The Fighting Stops
On November 11, 1919 at 11:11 AM, the fighting of
World War I stopped. Over 16 million people had
been killed. Almost $200 billion dollars had been
spent. Much of the fighting on the Western Front
was in France, and it had destroyed homes,
businesses, farmland, and entire towns. The
Russian, Austro-Hungarian, and Ottoman Empires
had fallen. The Allied Powers’ representatives from
Britain, France, the United States, and Italy met at
the Palace of Versailles in France to decide what
would happen next. The French representative was
very angry at Germany and wanted revenge. On
the other hand, President Woodrow Wilson of the
United States hoped to establish permanent peace,
and that World War I would be “the war to end all
wars.” Populations from the Allies’ colonies hoped
they would be given independence.
Versailles Peace Conference. President Wilson is on the right.
Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Versailles#mediaviewer/File:Big_four.jpg
Wilson’s Fourteen Points and the League of Nations
Wilson’s plan for the end of World War I was called the Fourteen Points. Each point was a step that, he hoped, would
end conflicts and prevent future wars. These points included the end of secret alliances, freedom of the seas, and
independence for colonies. This gave hope to colonies like India and Vietnam that had helped their colonial
masters to win the war.
Wilson’s final point was also his most important -- the establishment of a
League of Nations. The League of Nations would be an international
cooperative organization, a group of nations working together to keep
peace. Wilson hoped that countries would settle their conflicts by
negotiating in the League of Nations instead of fighting each other.
The Treaty of Versailles
In the end, Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points were largely ignored. The
Treaty of Versailles treated Germany very harshly. Germany was forced
to sign a “war guilt clause,” saying that the war was Germany’s fault.
Germany would have to pay reparations to the Allied Powers to help repair
the damage done by the war. These reparations crippled the German
economy. The size of Germany’s military was also greatly reduced to
prevent it from starting more wars. Territories and colonies controlled
by Germany were given to Britain and France.
The only one of Wilson’s Fourteen Points adopted in the Treaty of Versailles
was the League of Nations. Forty-two nations joined initially, but the United
States refused to join. The U.S. Senate, which had to agree to join the League rejected membership. In addition to
the absence of the United States, the League was weak because it had no power to enforce its decisions or act with
military force.
Blocking the Way!
Source: http://hti.osu.edu/sites/hti.osu.edu/files/styles/raw-image/
public/14Points_39.jpg?itok=qN1Z0pba
FCPS HS Social Studies © 2014
World War I-Results (cont.) WHII 10a and 10b
The Mandate System
Shortly after it was established, the League of Nations created the
Mandate System. This system divided up the territories of the fallen
Central Powers and were given control to the Allies (see map). For
example, the Ottoman Empire was sectioned off between Britain and
France. Britain took control of Iraq, Transjordan, and Palestine. France
took control of Syria and Lebanon. The stated goal of the Mandate
System was that Britain and France would prepare these territories to
rule themselves. Other mandates were created in Africa and Asia.
The majority of the countries in the mandate system would gain their
independence during the second half of the 20th century.
Key Vocabulary
Fourteen Points: President Woodrow
Wilson’s fourteen part plan for ending World
War I peacefully and preventing future wars
Mandate System: division of former
Ottoman territories between Britain and
France, developed by the League of Nations
War guilt clause: the section of the Treaty of
Versailles that Germany had to sign, admitting
that World War I was their fault
Reparations: payments for damages that occur
during a war usually paid by the losing side
Treaty of Versailles: the treaty that ended
World War I. It blamed and punished Germany
for the war and created the League of Nations
League of Nations: An international
cooperative organization where representatives
of countries would meet to prevent wars; one of
Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Point
International cooperative organization:
an alliance of many different countries working
together to reach a common goal
Quick Review
1. Which of Wilson’s Fourteen Points was the most important?
A. Ending secret alliances
B. Allowing freedom of the seas
C. Granting independence to all colonies
D. Creating a League of Nations
2. In the political cartoon, Germany is crushed
under World War I reparations.
What does the cartoon suggest?
A. The reparations were just.
B. France demanded reparations.
C. The League of Nations decided
the reparations amount.
D. Germany would not be able to
pay the reparations.
Source: New York World, 1921
Source: http://rulersandleaders.com/pol_cartoons/pc_NYWorld_reparations.htm
3. According to the map of the Mandate System, which
mandate is INCORRECTLY matched?
A. Transjordan → France
B. Iraq → Britain
C. Lebanon → France
D. Palestine → Britain
4. Do you think the Treaty of Versailles was too harsh on Germany?
Why or why not? Use at least two vocabulary terms in your answer.
Connection to Today
Resources
What treaties do you know that exist today? Are the treaties economic,
military, environmental, or political treaties? Who signed them? Are
they being enforced?
ABC-CLIO
● Paris Peace Conference
http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/
Display/309875?terms=treaty%20of%20versailles
Marshall Cavendish
● India, the Middle East, and China after 1918
http://www.marshallcavendishdigital.com/articledisplayresult/27/6269/64036
FCPS HS Social Studies © 2014