the end of the first world war

when was ww1 fought?

from 1914 to 1918

how did the war end?

the germans surrendered and signs an armistice saying that they would: pay reparations, give alsace-lorraine back to france, and move the german army out of the rhineland

what event happened in january 1919?

the paris peace conference

what was the paris peace conference?

32 countries met in the palace of versailles to talk and decide the terms of the final peace treaties - these discussions were led by the big three

who were the big three?

david lloyd george, georges clemenceau, and woodrow wilson

who was david lloyd george?

the prime minister of britain

who was georges clemenceau?

the prime minister of france

who was woodrow wilson?

the president of the usa

pressure on the big three?

each leader wanted to achieve different things, and each nation put pressure on their leader to get what they wanted - the big three had to act quickly as europe was unstable after the war

what did david lloyd george want from the treaty of versailles?

he wanted to punish germany but not too harshly, keep germany strong for trade, gain german colonies, and reduce germany’s navy

why did david lloyd george want a cautious approach and not to punish germany too harshly?

because he feared this would cause germany to want revenge

why did david lloyd george want to keep germany strong for trade?

so that they could trade with britain and act as a buffer to communism

why did david lloyd george want to gain german colonies?

so that he could add to the british empire and make it bigger

why did david lloyd george want to reduce germany’s navy?

to protect britain’s naval supremacy

what did georges clemenceau want from the treaty of versailles?

he wanted germany to pay reparations, weaken germany, and push germany’s border back to the rhine so french people would feel safer

what did georges clemenceau need germany’s reparations to pay for?

the rebuilding of areas in france which were badly affected by war

why did georges clemenceau want to weaken germany?

so that they could never attack again

why did georges clemenceau want to push the german border back to the rhine?

so that the french people would feel safer

what did woodrow wilson want from the treaty of versailles?

he wanted a fair peace to prevent future wars, self-determination and freedom of the seas

what idea did woodrow wilson come up with to achieve a fair peace?

the fourteen points, the foundation of a league of nations, but the American public did not want the USA involved in European affairs

what was something that was stopping woodrow wilson from achieving these aims?

the american public did not want the usa involved in european affairs