2_The Big Three - International Relations from 1919
I. Woodrow Wilson (President of the USA)
Background:
Born: 1856
Career: University professor → entered politics in 1910 → President in 1912, re-elected in 1916.
Before 1917: Followed isolationist policy, keeping the USA out of war.
After joining the war (1917): Drew up the Fourteen Points as a fair and lasting peace plan to prevent future wars.
Character:
Idealist and reformer; campaigned against political and business corruption.
Had a poor record on African American rights.
Stubborn/obstinate once he made up his mind.
Seen as a saintly and moral leader after the war.
The Fourteen Points (1918):
No secret treaties.
Free access to the seas in peace and war.
Free trade between nations.
Disarmament by all countries.
Colonies to have a say in their own future.
German troops to leave Russia.
Independence for Belgium.
France to regain Alsace-Lorraine.
Adjust Austria–Italy frontier.
Self-determination for Eastern Europeans.
Serbia to have access to the sea.
Self-determination for peoples in the Turkish Empire.
Independent Poland with access to the sea.
Establish a League of Nations to preserve peace.
Aims for a Better World:
Don’t punish Germany harshly – feared harsh treatment would lead to revenge and extremism (e.g. communism).
Strengthen democracy in defeated countries to secure peace.
Self-determination for smaller nations, especially from Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Promote international co-operation through the League of Nations (most important point).
Though idealistic, he was firm and resisted pressure, e.g. refused to cancel Allied war debts to gain support for his ideas.
Woodrow Wilson, born in 1856, became U.S. President in 1912 and was re-elected in 1916. Initially following an isolationist policy, he entered the war in 1917 and proposed the Fourteen Points to create a fair and lasting peace. An idealist and reformer, Wilson was stubborn and believed in justice, democracy, and self-determination. His main aims were to avoid harsh punishment for Germany, strengthen democracy in Europe, and promote international cooperation through the League of Nations. Though idealistic, he stood firm on his principles and refused to cancel Allied war debts to gain support for his ideas.
II. David Lloyd George (Prime Minister of Britain)
Background:
Prime Minister of Britain during the Paris Peace Conference.
Publicly praised Wilson, but privately thought he was moralistic and preachy.
Character:
Practical and politically aware.
Focused on Britain’s national and imperial interests.
Concerned about avoiding future conflict and communist revolution.
Balanced domestic pressures with diplomatic goals.
Aims / Views:
Germany should be punished, but not too harshly to avoid future revenge.
Restore Britain–Germany trade to protect jobs.
Limit Germany’s navy and colonies to protect the British Empire.
Respond to public pressure: over 1 million casualties, wartime hardships, anti-German propaganda, and German treatment of Russia (Treaty of Brest-Litovsk).
Pressures on Lloyd George:
Public wanted a harsh treaty.
Britain suffered over 1 million casualties, food shortages, wartime hardships.
Anti-German propaganda over 4 years.
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918): Germany’s harsh treatment of Russia.
Needed to balance home pressure with desire to prevent German revenge.
David Lloyd George, Britain’s Prime Minister, was a practical leader focused on balancing national, imperial, and domestic needs. Publicly, he praised Wilson but privately found him overly moralistic. He believed Germany should be punished but not too harshly, to prevent future revenge and potential communist uprisings. Lloyd George wanted to restore trade with Germany to protect British jobs while limiting Germany’s navy and colonies to safeguard the empire. He had to manage domestic pressures, including public demand for a harsh treaty, wartime hardships, and anti-German sentiment, while trying to create a fair and stable post-war settlement.
III. George Clémenceau (Prime Minister of France)
Background:
Born 1841 (aged 77 at start of Paris Peace Conference).
Entered French politics in 1871.
Prime Minister of France 1906–1909.
From 1914–1917, criticised French war leaders.
Elected Prime Minister in November 1917 to lead France through the last year of the war.
Character:
Hard, tough, and uncompromising politician.
Had experienced German invasions in 1870 and 1914.
Determined not to allow such devastation again.
Did Clemenceau agree with Wilson?
Publicly supported Wilson’s aim for a fair and lasting peace, but found him difficult to work with.
Did not openly criticise the Fourteen Points, but joked even God only needed Ten Commandments.
Major disagreement was over Germany — Clemenceau wanted the Treaty to cripple Germany so it could not attack France again.
Pressures on Clemenceau:
France suffered huge losses in land, industry, and population — over two-thirds of army men killed or wounded.
German power seemed a threat; French population (≈40 million) smaller than Germany’s (≈75 million).
Public demanded a harsh treaty to punish and weaken Germany.
French President Poincaré wanted Germany broken into smaller states, but Clemenceau knew Britain and USA would not agree.
Clemenceau was a realist, prepared to compromise, but needed to show awareness of French public opinion.
Georges Clemenceau, born in 1841, had a long political career and became Prime Minister in 1917 to lead France through the final year of World War I. He was a hard, tough, and uncompromising leader, shaped by German invasions in 1870 and 1914, and determined never to allow such devastation again. Publicly, he supported Wilson’s goal of a fair and lasting peace, but he found him difficult to work with and strongly disagreed over how to treat Germany, wanting to cripple it to prevent future attacks. Clemenceau faced enormous pressures at home: France had suffered severe losses in land, industry, and population, while Germany remained powerful. Though he was a realist and knew he would need to compromise on some issues, he had to reflect public demand for a harsh treaty to punish Germany.