The Versailles
Treaty as a Cause
of World War II
Palace of Versailles Today
The Hall of
Mirrors in the
Palace of
Versailles (18
miles SW of
Paris). This is
where the
treaty that
ended WWI was
signed.
ALLIES IN WWI CENTRAL POWERS IN WWI
Serbia Guatemala Austria-Hungary
Russia Nicaragua Ottoman Empire
France Costa Rica Bulgaria
Belgium Haiti Germany
Britain Honduras
Montenegro
Japan
Italy (started in Central Powers)
San Marino
Portugal
Romania
United States
Panama
Greece
Cuba
Thailand
Liberia
China
Brazil
Sarajevo
Fighting WWI 1914 – 1918
Major nations on the side of the ALLIES = Britain,
France, Russia, and the United States (did not
enter until 1917)
Major nations on the side of the CENTRAL
POWERS = Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the
Ottoman Empire
America was neutral in WWI until 1917. During
the first 3 years of the war, America sold
enormous quantities of supplies to both sides in
the war and made LOTS of money.
Trench Foot
Geography Impacted the Fighting of WWI
More American supplies reached the ALLIES
because they were on the outside of the
continent (Europe) and easier to reach.
Far less American supplies reached the CENTRAL
POWERS since they were located in the middle of
the continent and it was harder to get ships to
them.
By 1917 the CENTRAL POWERS declared war on
the U.S. because its supplies were helping the
ALLIES win.
British Naval
Blockade of Central
Powers
(DO NOT WRITE!)
**1917 Russian Revolution
Tsar Nicholas II was the “Tsar” (King)
of Russia during WW1.
Russia had a Absolute Monarchy as its
form of government. This gov’t gave
special treatment to the aristocracy
(rich) and to the Russian Orthodox
Church.
Russia consisted mostly of poor
peasants who were taxed at a very
high rate and treated poorly!
Tsar Nicholas II of Russia
October 1917 - - Communist leader, Vladimir Ilych
Lenin returned to Russia (he was in Switzerland)
and started the Communist Revolution. Russia
had to get out of World War 1.
Now the U.S. worried that without Russia the
Allies would not be able to win World War 1.
April 6, 1917 - - the U.S.
declared war and entered
WWI!
General John J. Pershing
was the commander of
American forces in WW1.
President Woodrow Wilson
President
Woodrow Wilson
created **the
Fourteen Points
as the basis for a
peace treaty to
end WW I. These
were 14 fair ideas
to end the war.
He did not want
Americans to get
slaughtered in
trenches!
World War I Casualties
0
1,000,0002,000,000
3,000,0004,000,0005,000,000
6,000,0007,000,000
8,000,0009,000,000
10,000,000Russia
Germany
Austria-Hungary
France
Great Britain
Italy
Turkey
US
SUMMARY OF WILSON’S
FOURTEEN POINTS
• No secret agreements between
nations.
• Freedom of the seas.
• General reduction of armaments.
• Self-determination – allow people
of the same culture & language to
be together in one nation.
• Creation of the **League of
Nations to keep peace.
**Kaiser Wilhelm
II, Leader of
Germany
January 1918 - - the Allies offered to
have a truce and base the peace
agreement on the **Fourteen Points.
The Germans refused because they
thought they could win the war!
June 1918 - - 1.7 million fresh and well
equipped American soldiers began to
fight in the trenches. Now the
Germans realized they would be
defeated.
November 11, 1918 - - when the Allies
were ready to invade & destroy
Germany, the Germans accepted a
truce based on the Fourteen Points in
order to avoid having any damage in
their country!
France
France After WWI
1. Bankrupt
2. 20% of land
totally
destroyed from
trench warfare
(shown in red)
3. Winner in WWI
Britain
Germany
Much of France was totally destroyed during WWI
France
Germany
Britain After WWI
1. Bankrupt
2. Winner in WWI
Britain
France
Germany
Germany After WWI
1. Most powerful
military in Europe
2. Best economy in
Europe
3. Loser in WWI
4. Promised a fair
treaty based on the
14 Points
**The Versailles Treaty (1919) is the agreement that ended
World War 1. The Central Powers (losing side) were not
allowed to participate in the Paris Peace Talks, but they
were told the treaty would be based on the Fourteen Points.
Most Damaging Parts of the Versailles Treaty:
1. War Guilt Clause - - said that Germany ALONE caused
WW I. This was a total lie to destroy Germany financially.
If they caused it, they should have to pay for the damage.
2. **Reparations {aka the Blank Check Clause} - - since
Germany caused the war, they had to pay the Allies for all
the damages. No specific amount was given. Germany
was told that she would have to pay whatever amount the
Allies decided on! Final amount was $ 124 Billion
Reichsmarks {$ 33 billion American dollars}!!
WW I = 9,000,000 Dead!!!!
116,516
Americans
Adolf Hitler as WWI Courier
1. Explain how Kaiser Wilhelm II used
the Fourteen Points (created by
American President Woodrow
Wilson) to create the main problem
at the end of World War I.
2. Why did Britain and France change
the Versailles Treaty to make it
destroy Germany?
Rhineland
Polish Corridor
The
End!!