1.

Was the Treaty of Versailles

fair?
The aftermath of the First World War
 1. Effects of WW1

As the First World War drew to a close, Allied

forces swept out Imperial German forces
across the European continent. Four years of
brutal warfare had left Europe exhausted and
in ruins. Battle-weary troops pushed on into
Germany and by October 1918 it was clear
that the Germans had lost. The damage
caused was terrible. Europe - formerly the
powerhouse of intellectual thinking and
economic progress - had been reduced to a
ration-taking ruin.
The video on the right takes you through the Great War,
1914 - 18, including the Paris Peace Settlement of 1919.

This is a MUST see video.

Historian: David Reynolds, Emeritus Professor of

International History at Cambridge University
What do the following terms mean?

Economic Relating to the ownership of

an area of land or sea.

Political Dealing with the wealth of a

nation.

Territorial Relating to society or its

organisation

Social Relating to the government

or public affairs of a country
What do the following terms mean?

Economic Relating to the ownership of

an area of land or sea.

Political Dealing with the wealth of a

nation.

Territorial Relating to society or its

organisation

Social Relating to the government

or public affairs of a country
Read ‘The effects of the war’ on the next slide
and sort them into the following categories.

Economic Social

The Effects of
the War

Political Territorial
 The effects of the war
● Britain, Russia and France were effectively ● Inflation - continuous rising prices, hit
bankrupt, relying on money from USA; the war Germany
had cost billions of dollars. ● The lack of working men had led to a boom
● Millions of refugees lay displaced across in working women. Women now did
Europe, carrying sickness and diseases with industrial work and began pushing for the
them as they went home. The Spanish Flu
vote too. The hierarchical structure of
killed 50 million people alone.
society began to break apart.
● an estimated 40 million people had died
● There was a shortage of fuel in Germany.
worldwide (either from direct war or disease).
● Turkey was no longer a major power.
4 million soldiers from the Central Powers had
● The Habsburg monarchy would no longer
died; 5.4 million soldiers of the Triple Entente.
● The empires of Russia, Austria-Hungary and have an Empire to rule.
the Ottomans (Turkey) had collapsed. ● Germany's currency had collapsed, causing
● Germany lost 15% of her population. a black market and barter system (trading
● Germany's borders were now undecided, but in goods) to form.
France wanted Alsace-Lorraine and the ● Britain and France's colonies now began to
Rhineland, whilst Poland eyed land to the East think about independence
of Germany, and Britain and Japan eyed
Germany’s colonies.
Economic Effects Social Effects

● Britain, Russia and France were ● Millions of refugees lay displaced across
effectively bankrupt, relying on Europe, carrying sickness and diseases
money from USA; the war had cost with them as they went home. The
Spanish Flu killed 50 million people
billions of dollars
alone.
● Inflation - continuous rising prices,
● Germany lost 15% of her population.
hit Germany
● an estimated 40 million people had died
● There was a shortage of fuel in
worldwide (either from direct war or
Germany disease).
● Germany's currency had collapsed, ● 4 million soldiers from the Triple Alliance
causing a black market and barter had died; 5.4 million soldiers of the
(trading in goods) Triple Entente.
● The lack of working men had led to a
boom in working women. Women now
did industrial work and began pushing
for the vote too. The hierarchical
structure of society began to break
apart.
 Political Effects Territory Effects
● The empires of Russia, Austria- ● Most fighting occured in France,
Hungary and Turkey had collapsed. which suffered huge damage.
● The Russian Tsar lay dead. ● Germany's borders were now
● Turkey was no longer a major power. undecided but France wanted Alsace-
● The Habsburg monarchy would no Lorraine and the Rhineland, whilst
longer have an Empire to rule. Poland eyed land to the West of
● Britain and France's colonies now Germany
began to think about independence
2. The Big Three

The victorious nations that decided what to

do with Germany and the conquered
countries, met at Versailles in Paris. Initially
this was Britain (under Lloyd-George), France
(under Clemenceau), USA (under Wilson)
and Italy (under Vittorio Orlando). However,
Italy soon stormed out, leaving just three
dominant members - known as 'The Big
Three'. They gathered at the Palace of
Versailles
The big three at Versailles

Why did the victorious powers meet at

Versailles in Paris?
Copy the chart below and then answer the
question:
What were the motives and aims of ‘the big 3’ at Versailles? (pp 6 -9)
Attitude towards Main Aims Reasons for these aims Were the aims
Germany achieved (-5 to +5)
Give a brief reason

Wilson (USA)

Lloyd George
(UK)

Clemenceau
(France)
4. The impact of the peace treaty
Terms of the Treaty of Versailles

Background
The Kaiser had fled. The first question the victors had to answer was: Who would represent
Germany at the peace talks, scheduled for the Palace of Versailles in the Hall of Mirrors: The
same place that Germany had made the French sign in the Franco-Prussian war.
In the end, they chose the simple answer: No one would represent Germany. Instead, the Big
Three (Lloyd-George, Clemenceau and Wilson) took to deciding post-war Europe without
representation from the new Weimar Republic, under Ebert. Their terms for Germany's
surrender became known as 'The Treaty of Versailles', whilst other treaties were also made
for the other defeated powers (see 'Other Treaties')
 Woodrow Wilson that the
League is set up and it is
Which Countries to be the cornerstone of
are pleased by international relations.
each of the key
terms? France is happy that it get
A-L and the coalfields of
the Saar.
Italy please as it France would rather have
meant they did not an independent Rhineland.
have a strong
Austria on its Britain happy that France
border. will not be able to fully
dominate Europe.

Britain and France happy that

France is happy
they get more colonies. Sorry
-ish as it meant
‘mandates’!
there was a
reduced threat
of invasion. Britain is happy that they
have removed the threat to
their empire.

Britain is happy as the price is

high but not crippling allowing
Germany to become a trading
1921 London Schedule of Payments partner in the future. France
wanted more.
TREATIES AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 1776-1949
Title: Wilson’s 14 points & the Treaty of Versailles

Look at the list of Wilson’s 14

points, 1.3, on p 5. Compare
them to the list of terms of the
treaty below and create a venn
diagram.
Just in the 14 points Just in the ToV
Both

1921 London Schedule of Payments

Just 14 pts Both Just ToV
No more secret Demilitarisation of the Rhineland
treaties
Free navigation of the Reparations - 132 mio. Gold marks
seas. War Guilt Clause - art. 231
All countries reduce Covenant of the LoN - Germany
armaments not allowed to join.
Impartial settlement of Independence The Saar given to France for 15
colonial disputes of Belgium yrs
Alsace-Lorraine to
Self-determination for the Germany forbidden to unite with
France
people of Austria-Hungary Austria
Est. of Poland and
access to sea Danzig - ‘free city’ /
Self-
mandate
determination
Ger. troops All Ger. colonies given to Br., Fr., &
of the people of
leave Russia Japan.
Turkish Empire
Evac. & Ger. army restricted to 100,000
restoration of
Ger. restricted to 6 battleships and no
invaded Balkan
subs.
lands Ger. no airforce
New Nations: 1923
German Pacific Colonies Lost After
WW
German I
League of Nations Mandates in Africa
3. Why did the big three disagree?
The USA had not been affected as much as France France wanted revenge on Germany for the
and Britain – Wilson’s aims were therefore much more destruction the war had caused.
idealistic – e.g. his 14 points and self determination.
Lloyd George wanted to protect British interests
No war on US soil.
but knew he needed trading partners L-G
Clemenceau felt Britain and the USA did not mind however promised the British people that he
having a stronger Germany to keep France in order. would ‘squeeze the German lemon until the pips
squeaked’ and ‘Hang the Kaiser’
Wilson weakened by lack of support back home – As
the Senate prevented the USA from joining the Lloyd George was also uneasy with Wilson’s self
League of Nations. (LON). independence idea as Britain had an empire on
which ‘the sun never set’ – they didn’t want their
US wanted isolation and Clemenceau wanted France
subjects to have self-independence!
to be secure from future German attacks. This meant
weakening Germany and reducing its military
strength.
Copy the chart into your exercise book.
Use pages 10 - 13 of your TB

Positive features of Versailles Negative features of Versailles

France

USA

GB
Copy the chart into your exercise book.
Use pages 10 - 13 of your TB

Positive features of Versailles Negative features of Versailles

*Alsace-Lorraine under French control again, since 1871 *Clemenceau wanted an independent Rhineland as a buffer zone, while President Poinicare
France *Received colonies, Togoland, Cameroons, Syria & Lebanon wanted Germany split up. France had to settle for a demilitarised zone.
*Received large amount of reparations, but wanted more. *France wanted Britain and France to guarantee French borders - to come to France’s aid if
Germany attacked again. This never occurred as the US Congress did not ratify the ToV fearing
loss of US sovereignty and being dragged into another European war.
*Overall unhappy as France still felt exposed - Clemenceau lost Jan 1920 presidential election
and force to resign as PM

*GB and Fr accepted covenant of the LoN *Britain insistence of free navigation of the seas abandoned.
USA *That the defeated powers disarm, but not happy victors did not *Britain, France and Japan gained de facto colonies poorly disguised as colonies
*Happy Rhineland part of Germany for trade potential, and happy it is *national self-determination was not applied fully, eg: Austria could not unite with Germany
demilitarised to punish Germany. *Worst point: He could not persuade the 2/3s of his own congress to ratify the treaties nor
*Happy that reparations were not as high as they could have been allowing join the LoNs
Germany to trade. *Overall, felt the treaty was too harsh.
*Happy with the formation of ‘nationally self-determined states like Poland
Czechoslovakia & Yugoslavia

*Wanted a moderate peace allowing Europe’s economy to survive, largely *Did not like that German-speaking peoples placed under French or Polish rule (thought would
GB achieved. WOuld help prevent the spread of communism cause problems later)
*Convince Clemenceau to be lenient on Germany in return for a Anglo-
American guarantee -never happen though!
*Increased her colonies with 1.8 mio square miles / 13 mio more pop. -
Empire was at its largest in 1919
*German naval threat gone - Scapa Flow
**Most satisfied of the 3. Lloyd-George returned in triumph.
4. The impact of the peace treaty
Terms of the Treaty of Versailles

Background
The Kaiser had fled. The first question the victors had to answer was: Who would represent
Germany at the peace talks, scheduled for the Palace of Versailles in the Hall of Mirrors: The
same place that Germany had made the French sign in the Franco-Prussian war.
In the end, they chose the simple answer: No-one would represent Germany. Instead, the Big
Three (Lloyd-George, Clemenceau and Wilson) took to deciding post-war Europe without
representation from the new Weimar Republic, under Ebert. Their terms for Germany's
surrender became known as 'The Treaty of Versailles', whilst other treaties were also made
for the other defeated powers (see 'Other Treaties')
Task
You have now looked at the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. Go make
amendments to the table you have created about the aims of the ‘Big
Three’ and fill in the last column.
Extra
Complete the task below in your exercise book
under the title. ‘Who was the most satisfied
with the the treaty?’ (Use pp 10, 11 & 12 of your textbook)

TIP
Structure your answer like this.

1. Point: Answer the question explicitly and say why.

2. Evidence: Give a piece of evidence from what you have read to support your idea, one - three word
quotations at most.
3. Explanation / analysis: Say why this piece of evidence is relevant.
4. Link: Link to the question.
Task: Turn your page landscape and copy down the chart. Use pp 13 - 16 to answer the
question. (The information here can answer a ‘b’ type question in Paper 1)

1. 2.

Why was
6. Germany 3.
dissatisfied
with the peace
treaty?

5.
4.
To what extent was the Treaty of Versailles fair? [10]
To what extent was the Treaty of Versailles fair? [10]
Evidence
Task
Make a copy of the following worksheet and complete the analysis for
each piece of evidence.

table: To what extent was the Treaty of Versailles fair? [10]

To what extent was the Treaty of Versailles fair? [10]
Introduction:

All you need in your mini essay is a little background and a thesis statement (most
important).

The Treaty of Versailles was the peace treaty with Germany that
brought the Great War to an end in 1919. The main architects of the
treaty were Lloyd George (Great Britain), Clemenceau (France) and
Wilson (USA). The peace they crafted was largely seen as …
… fair when one looks at what happened during the war.
… unfair as it was unnecessarily harsh.
… understandable given the competing motivations of the leaders
involved and therefore all parties would see at least some of the
treaty as unfair.
Body paragraphs
You need to write four body paragraphs looking at both sides of the question /
suggesting 4 separate themes for discussion. Each paragraph MUST use PEEL.

Point - a topic sentence outlining the theme to be discussed in the paragraph.

Evidence - a detailed example, statistics, quotations, and / or rephrasements.

Explanation / analysis - explain why you evidence is relevant to your point.

Linkage - link your paragraph back to the question especially answering ‘how far
or to what extent’
Conclusion
Simply state which factor you consider the most important and state
why you think so and relate it back to your thesis.
Getting points
If you mention one good explanation on each side of the argument you
can get 6 points.

If you have two good arguments on one side and one on the other side,
then you can get a maximum of 8 points

If you have two good arguments on each side then you can between 7 -
9 pts

If you answer ‘to what extent…’ you get 10 pts

The other treaties [SaiNTS] pp 17 - 19.

The Treaty of Versailles was the most important treaty of 1919–1920.

It was the treaty with Germany, and was decided by the Big Three. It
was the Treaty which set up the League of Nations. Also, the Treaty of
Versailles set down the principles of how the defeated countries would
be treated. The ‘big Three’ left Paris and left officials to ‘roll out’ small
versions of the ToV to be applied to the other countries.
● they had to pay reparations,
● they had to disarm,
Discuss: Do you think this ‘one size fits all’ ● they lost land,
approach was a good idea? Justify your answer ● self-determination.
 Read pp 17 - 19 to help to fill in your table. Then stick it in
your book

132 billion gold marks

Past paper questions 2016
5

(a) What were the effects of the Treaty of Trianon on Hungary? 4 marks

(b) Why did Wilson believe his ‘Fourteen Points’ should form the basis
of the Treaty of Versailles? 6 marks

(c) How far did the peace settlement of 1919–20 reflect the aims of
Clemenceau? Explain your answer. 10 marks
5 (a) What were the effects of the Treaty of Trianon on Hungary?
ANSWERS: 5(a) What were the effects of the Treaty of Trianon on Hungary?

Level 1 One mark for each relevant point; additional mark for supporting detail [1–4] e.g.
‘Hungary had to accept the break-up of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.’

● ‘Hungary had to recognise the independence of Yugoslavia.’

● ‘Hungary had to recognise the independence of Czechoslovakia.’
● ‘Hungary had to cede Transylvania to Romania.’
● ‘Hungary had to cede Slovakia and Ruthenia to Czechoslovakia.’
● ‘Hungary had to cede Slovenia and Croatia to Yugoslavia.’ ‘Hungary lost 70% of its land area.’ ‘Hungary
lost one-third of its population.’
● ‘Three million Hungarians ended up in other states.’
● ‘Hungary was now a landlocked nation.’
● ‘Hungary’s industries suffered from a loss of population and raw materials.’
● ‘Hungary was due to pay reparations, but its economy was so weak it never did.’
● ‘Hungary was to reduce her armed forces to 35000 men.’

Level 0 No evidence submitted or response does not address the question

(b) Why did Wilson believe his ‘Fourteen Points’ should form
the basis of the Treaty of Versailles? 6 marks
ANSWERS: (b) Why did Wilson believe his ‘Fourteen Points’ should form the basis
of the Treaty of Versailles?

Level 4 Explains TWO reasons [6]

Level 3 Explains ONE reason [4–5] (One mark for an explanation, additional mark for full explanation.) e.g.
‘Wilson wanted to build a better and peaceful world with the use of his Fourteen Points. They resulted from
identifying the causes of the conflict and then devising remedies for each cause. An example would be that
the arms build-up had been one of the causes of the war. Wilson recommended that countries should
disarm, maintaining just what was needed for basic defence.’

Level 2 Identifies AND/OR describes reasons [2–3] (One mark for each identification/description) e.g. ‘They
would provide a fair and lasting peace.’ ‘They would not lead to revenge on the defeated countries.’ ‘They
identified the causes of the conflict.’ ‘They devised remedies for each cause of the war.’ ‘Wilson thought
they would build a better world.’ ‘Wilson thought these would help countries co-operate in the future.’

Level 1 General answer lacking specific contextual knowledge [1] e.g. ‘Wilson thought his points looked to
the future.’
(c) How far did the peace settlement of 1919–20 reflect the
aims of Clemenceau? Explain your answer. 10 marks
ANSWERS: How far did the peace settlement of 1919–20 reflect the aims of Clemenceau?
Explain your answer.
Level 5 Explains with evaluation of ‘how much’ they agree / disagree [10] As Level 4 plus evaluation.

Level 4 Explanation of both sides [7–9] A L4 answer will have a minimum of three explanations (2 on one
side; 1 on the other). This will be worth a mark of 7 or 8 depending on quality. A top L4 answer will have a
minimum of four explanations (2 explanations on one side; 2 on the other). This will be worth a mark of 7 to
9 depending on quality.

Level 3 One sided explanation OR [4–6] One explanation of both sides 5–6 marks More detailed explanation
of one issue to be given two marks. e.g. ‘Clemenceau was concerned that a future German attack on France
would come across its eastern border. He wanted the Rhineland to be an independent state so that France
no longer shared a border with Germany, but this was rejected by Wilson and Lloyd George.’ OR e.g. ‘As a
result of the Franco-Prussian War, Alsace-Lorraine had been taken by Germany in 1871. Clemenceau was
successful in getting the provinces returned as part of the peace settlement.’

Level 2 Identifies AND/OR describes [2–3] (One mark for each point)

Level 1 General answer lacking specific contextual knowledge [1]

Level 0 No evidence submitted or response does not address the question [0]
Why did the Treaty of Sèvres have to be changed?

The Treaty of Lausanne

The Other Treaties
Hungary: Treaty of Trianon

● Lost swathes of land to Romania, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia.

● Thousands of ethnic Hungarians lived outside their homeland as the border was redrawn with
neighbouring powers.
● It lost 70% of its land.
● Lost all trading routes via the Mediterranean Sea; a real loss of income.
● Popular phrase for the Treaty in Hungary was 'No, No, Never!’
● Very humiliating considering its former size and influence.
● Breaking up the Hapsburg Empire meant a loss of markets and trade restrictions.
● They never could afford to pay back the reparations.
● Italy felt it did not get enough land in Hungary!
Austria: Treaty of St Germain
● The Hapsburg Empire had fallen and was ordered to be dismantled.
● Bohemia and Moravia were given away to the newly formed Czechoslovakia.
● Yugoslavia would have Bosnia and Herzegovina.
● Humiliated by being denied union with Germany.
● Felt hard done by as they lost land to 5 countries.
● Lost a lot of their economic industrial land to ally-friendly Czechoslovakia.
Turkey: Treaty of Sevres
● The Ottoman Empire had fallen after hundreds of years.
● All colonies were stripped and given away e.g. Syria and Palestine.
● Had to totally disarm.
● Lost land to its neighbour and rival, Greece.
● Split the country into civil war as they refused to sign it.
● Mustafa Kemal renegotiated the whole treaty in 1923: Treaty of Lausanne!
● Reclaimed Anatolia at this meeting.
● Muslim factions disdained Western occupation in the region.
● Turks resented Western insistence that all financial matters go through them first!
Bulgaria: Treaty of Neuilly

1. Had to totally disarm.

2. Ordered to pay $100m reparations.
3. Lost land to neighbours such as Yugoslavia, Greece and Romania.
4. Lost access to the seas.
5. How justified were the treaties?
Justification for the Treaty of Versailles
● Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was harsher (signed between Germany and Russia 3rd March 1918): in this,
Russia lost 34% of its population, 32% of its agricultural land, 54% of its industry, 26% of its railways,
89% of its coal mines and had to pay 300 million roubles.
● By 1925 German steel production was twice as great as Great Britain’s.
● During WW1 the German finance minister claimed he would make the allies pay for the war if
Germany won. Surely it was fair then, that if they lost, the Germans would have to pay.
● Germany played a large role in starting the war After all, they did sign the ‘Blank Cheque’ which then
drew other countries into an alliance struggle.
● Considering the problems the ‘Big Three’ had, it was the fairest they could hope for.
● France had lost 2/3rds of its army to injury or death in WW1. Clemenceau needed to be sure of not
being attacked again. He also remembered the Franco-Prussian War in 1870.
● Britain had also suffered greatly, losing 1 million men.