Canadian History Notes

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Canada's emerging autonomy:

After signing the armistice, the leaders of the allies and other countries that won the war met in Paris in 1919 to discuss the terms of a peace agreement.

The Paris Peace Conference lasted for six months and resulted in a number of treaties that defined new borders and compensation for losses suffered during the war. More than 30 countries attended the conference each with their own agendas.
Germany and its allies were not allowed to participate. Russia, which had already negotiated the Treaty of Brest-Litovisk with Germany in 1918, was not invited

Participating in peace:

The Paris peace conference marked an important moment in Canada’s emerging autonomy from Britain. \n
Because Canada contributed to the war and its soldiers fought under Canadian leaders on the battlefield, Prime Minister Borden demanded that Canada have its own seat at the conference

U.S President Woodrow Wilson opposed Canada’s participation. He thought that Britain should vote on behalf of the British Empire and that a separate vote for Canada was just another vote for Britain

British Prime Minister Lloyd George reminded Wilson that Canada won a seat at the conference and Borden insisted that he be included among those leaders who signed the Treaty of Versailles
For the first time, Canada gained international recognition as an independent nation

\ The Treaty of Versailles:

Came out of the Paris Peace Conference
This document laid out the terms of peace between Germany and the Allies. Initially, U.S President Wilson proposed a 14-point plan for a “just and lasting peace” that emphasized forgiveness and future international cooperation.
Some Allied leaders wanted to shame Germany and make them pay for the damage their countries had suffered during the war

\ The Treaty of Versailles included the following terms…

Germany had to agree to a War Guilt Clause, meaning that it had to accept sole responsibility for causing the war
Germany’s territory would be reduced, and Alsace-Lorraine would be returned to France. Rhineland, on the west bank of the River, would remain a part of Germany but would be demilitarized. Some of Germany’s land would be given to Poland so it would have a corridor to the sea, Germany also had to give up control of its colonies
Germany had to pay war reparations, 30 Billion

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