The Treaty of Versailles

       The guns of World War I went silent on November 11, 1918, but the treaty ending the war would be signed until June 28, 1919.   From January 1919, until the end of June, delegates from France, Italy, Great Britain, and the United States began to work on a peace deal that would bring about to the largest conflict the world had ever seen.  Representatives from Germany and Austria were not invited to attend the peace conference that was being held in the palace of Versailles, right outside Paris.

   

      The Allies all brought to Versailles their own agenda, each wanting something from the peace conference.  

The French Prime Minister was George Clemenceau.  George wanted to make sure that Germany would be fully punished for its actions during World War I.  Clemenceau knew that Germany had invaded France in 1871 and again in 1914, he wanted to be sure that Germany would never again be strong enough to threaten the security of France.  He wanted the Germans to be left with no army or navy, and that the Rhineland be given over to the allies so that the Germans could not use their industrial center.  Clemenceau was out for revenge. 

David Lloyd George was the Prime Minister of Great Britain at the time. George was concerned that if France was to have its way, then the French would have an edge in global affairs.  He wanted to be sure that the Germans would be punished, but sought a punishment not as harsh as the one France wanted.  George believed that the British would benefit from the German colonies in Africa as well as Asia.  Germany had been England's number one rival for naval supremacy, so Lloyd wanted to be sure that Germany would never be a threat to the British navy again. 

Woodrow Wilson represented the United States at the conference at Versailles.  Wilson's main objective was that an international organization be created to ensure that there would never again be a conflict like the Great War.  Wilson detailed this in his Fourteen Points, and called for a League of Nations to be created.  Wilson's plans were met with some skepticism back in the United States.

    The German delegate was not invited into the conference hall until the treaty was complete on June 28th.  When he began to read the document he shook with rage.  Germany would be forced to take full responsibility for the war.   This "War Guilt Clause" meant that Germany would be forced to pay reparations to the Allies for all civilian damages that were caused during the conflict.

   Other parts of the treaty included:

1.) German port city of Danzig, and other lands would be given to the new country of Poland.

2.) The industrial center of the Rhineland would be occupied by the French and the British.

3.) The German army was to be limited to 100,000 men.

4.) The new country of Chezhoslavakia would be given some land. 

5.) Germany would give the territory of Alslace and Lorraine back to France

6.) Germany gave the territory of Scheleswig to Denmark

7.) The German navy would be limited to 15,000 men and consist of: 6 battleships, 6 cruisers, 6 destroyers, and 12 torpedo boats.  No submarines!

As news of the humiliating treaty reached Germany, the people responded with widespread protests.  Many Germans felt that their country had been betrayed, but not by the kaiser and the old government, by the new government, The Weimar Republic.  The Republic faced the uphill task of rebuilding a beaten and bitter nation.

M.A.I.N.

  Europe of 1914 and Europe of 1933 were two very different places.  In 1914, Germany, Russia, and Austria-Hungary were all ruled by emperors. By 1933, all of those nations would have different governments and have lost much of their territory.

    Germany was an empire ruled by the Hohenzolleran family.  Kaiser Wilhem II's family had ruled the German kingdom of Prussia since the 1600s, and over time had carved out a German empire by 1871.  Wilhem believed that his kingdom was destined to have the largest empire and most powerful navy in the world.

     The Russian empire stretched across Europe and Asia, the largest nation in the world.  While the largest country, Russia remained one of the poorest, lagging behind other nations in industry and manufacturing.  Russia was ruled by the Romanov family, who had been in power for over 300 years.  Czar Nicholas II would be the last ruler of Romanovs.

     Austria-Hungary was ruled by the Hapsburg family, which had been in power since 1512.   The Hapsburgs were german speaking Austrians that ruled a very diverse empire.  Maygars, Poles, Hungarians, Slavs, Italians,  Albanians, and Croatians were some of the different ethnic groups that lived in the empire.    Each group clamored for their own independent nation.

The heir to the Austrian thrown was assassinated in a remote portion of his kingdom.  The group that was responsible for the murder wanted Austria-Hungary to grant independence to that portion of the kingdom.  Austria blamed its neighbor, Serbia and demanded that Serbia give in to a list of demands.  Serbia refused, and Austria declared war.

In the decades leading up to the war, European nations became involved in militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism.  M.A.I.N.   These would be the long term causes of the First World War.

Militarism: the strengthening of a nation's military and the belief that it was the duty of a citizen to fight and die for your nation.  This glorification of of war had many young men join the military to fulfill their duty as a good citizen.  The governments of England, France, and Germany began to increase the size of their armies and navies.  Like little kids with toys, these rulers were looking for an opportunity to use their army.

Alliances: Secret alliances occurred between several nations in Europe.  Austria-Hungary had a "blood bond" with Germany.  A "blank check", that promised unconditional support in a time of war.  Serbia had an alliance with Russia, who viewed the Russian empire as a protective older brother.  France had a secret treaty with Russia to support the Russians if they were ever attacked.  Belgium had support from Britain, that if they were ever attacked then the British would come to their aid. 

Imperialism: empire building.  European nations competed over land in Africa and Asia for colonies that would provide gold, rubber, cotton, tea, and other raw materials.  This led to an increase in tensions as nations grew jealous of other countries' colonies.

Nationalism: the belief that your nation is superior to other nations in the world. The British felt that they were better then the Germans and the French.  The Germans felt that they were superior to other countries, ect...  Imagine if you had a lacrosse team where every athlete felt that they were the best and should be starting.  Nobody would pass the ball, and no plays could be called.  Multiply that tension and you can see how this created a dangerous environment. 

Dark Days of the War

In 1861, General Winfield Scott designed a plan to defeat the Confederate forces.  Scott did not believe that the war could be won quickly, so he designed a plan that would slowly but surely bring an end to the war.   The plan called for a naval blockade of all Southern ports, cutting the South off from money and supplies from Great Britain.  The second part of the plan, had the Union army take over the Mississippi River, isolating Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas from the rest of the Confederacy. This plan became known as the Anaconda Plan.

      While Scott's plan was being carried out by Lincoln, many had hoped the war would end much quicker.  To achieve that goal, Lincoln wanted the Confederate capital of Richmond to be taken.  Lincoln promoted General George B. McClellan (Little Mac) to command the U.S. military.  McClellan led a large Union force into Northern Virginia hoping to capture Richmond.

    For seven days Robert E. Lee and George B. McClellan engaged in six battles outside Richmond.  The Seven Days Battle may have an unoriginal name but when the week was up, McClellan and his army limped out of northern Virginia back to Washington D.C.  Lincoln then orders General John Pope to try and take Richmond.  Pope is a highly ambitious soldier and takes bold chances on the battlefield. McClellan writes in his journal that Pope would be "trashed. "Pope tells his troops, "let us look before us and not behind.  Success and glory are in the advance."   Little Mac is right.  Pope and his men get badly beaten at the Second Battle of Bull Run.

      As the Union army is being defeated by Robert E. Lee, the popularity of the war in North is fading past.  Lincoln meets with his Secretary of War, Edward Stanton and his Sec. of State William Seward and discuss the situation.  Lincoln wants to issue an proclamation to free the slaves in the Confederate held territory.  Such a proclamation would cause damage to the Southern economy.  Lincoln can not issue the proclamation following an Union defeat.  If he did then it would make the north look desperate to win.  The President needed a victory.

      Victory would arrive courtesy of a box of cigars.  Union troops in Maryland discover battle plans for General Robert E. Lee's forces wrapped in a cigar box.  The Confederate government ordered Lee to head north and try to earn a victory on Union controlled land.  The South hoped that a Confederate victory on Union controlled land would have the U.S. government call for an end to hostilities.   

        With Lee's plans, McClellan knows where the Confederate forces are heading.  The two armies meet near Antietam Creek in Maryland.  The fighting lasts for several hours and both sides suffer heavy casualties.  In one day of fighting 12,500 Union soldiers and 13,700 Confederate troops would die.  Lee knew that his army was badly beaten and needed to return to Virginia for supplies and rest.  McClellan was given the opportunity to peruse Robert E. Lee but hesitates.  McClellan's hesitation would lead to his dismissal by Abraham Lincoln who ordered that Little Mac, "destroy the rebel army is possible." 

    Antietam remains the bloodiest day in American history.  From this battle though, Lincoln has the victory that he needs to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.  This document inspires slaves to flee their owners when they hear that a Union army is nearby, giving hope to millions.