US Imperialism and WW1 – Part 5 of 6 | Postwar, Peace, and Legacy

The Costs of War

Worldwide: 22 million dead (over half civilians)

US Casualties

117

Wilson's Fourteen Points

President Woodrow Wilson's 1918 peace plan to prevent future conflicts and promote democracy worldwide.

14 Points Goals

Open diplomacy

Paris Peace Conference (1919-1920)

Allied meeting at Versailles

Versailles Palace

Site where the peace conference was held; symbolized both unity and division among Allies.

Goals of the Conference

Create peace

Big Four Leaders

Woodrow Wilson (US)

Germany and Russia

Excluded from negotiations due to defeat and revolution; weakened legitimacy of treaty.

Treaty of Versailles (1919)

Official peace treaty ending WWI; imposed harsh terms on Germany.

Germany's Territorial Losses

Gave up colonies and key European lands; Alsace-Lorraine returned to France; new nations formed from German and Austrian land.

Military Restrictions on Germany

Army limited to 100

German Reparations

Required to pay billions in war damages to Allies

War Guilt Clause (Article 231)

Forced Germany to accept full responsibility for causing WWI.

Reaction to Treaty

Angered Germany; Italy and Japan felt cheated; colonies and nationalists around the world felt betrayed.

Discontent from Treaty

Global dissatisfaction sowed resentment and instability leading to WWII.

League of Nations (1919)

International peace organization proposed in Wilson's 14 Points to resolve disputes without war.

Purpose of League

Collective security

US Senate Rejection

Refused to join League of Nations fearing loss of sovereignty and entanglement in future European wars.

Effects of US Rejection

Weakened League's authority; unable to prevent aggression by Germany

Return to Isolationism

US avoided foreign entanglements post-WWI

America's Advantages Post-WWI

Strong economy

Postwar Disillusionment

Many Americans viewed WWI as wasteful; antiwar sentiment grew during 1920s.

Impact of Treaty on Germany

Economic hardship and humiliation fueled rise of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Party.

Legacy of WWI

Redrew borders

Root Causes Revisited (WWII Link)

Militarism

Which WWI Cause Returns?

Nationalism and militarism rise again in Europe; evidence: Germany's rearmament and expansion.

Lessons of WWI

Harsh peace treaties can create future conflict; international cooperation is vital for stability.

US Postwar Policy

Returned to isolationism

Overall Impact

WWI transformed US into major world power