The Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of VersaillesAPUSH Unit 6, Lecture 5(covers Ch.
23)Ms. Kray (some slides taken from Susan Pojer)APUSH STD 18Analyze
the Treaty of Versailles in terms of its relative weakness and the
reasons behind its failed ratification.
Are the lecture you should be able to:List problems with the
Treaty of VersaillesExplain why the treaty was never ratified in
the U.S.The Search for Social UnityCommittee on Public
InformationHeaded by George Creel Americas Propaganda Minister?
Anti-Germanism
Films, posters, pamphlets
Examples of Propaganda
Espionage and Sedition ActsEspionage Act, 1917 provided for
imprisonment for up to 20 yrs. for either trying to incite
rebellion in the armed forces or obstructing the operation of the
draftSedition Act, 1918 prohibited anyone from making disloyal or
abusive remarks about the govtEugene V. Debs sentenced to 10
years2,000 convicted and jailedSchenck v. United States,
1919Supreme Court upheld constitutionality of Espionage ActFree
speech could be limited when it represented a clear and present
danger to the public safetyAmerican Protective LeagueEnlisted
people to serve as agentsCheck out activities of neighbors (open
mail, tap phones, etc.)
Hate the Hun CampaignAttacked all things GermanGerman measles =
Liberty measlesSauerkraut = Liberty cabbage
Many groups were targeted: socialists, labor activists, female
pacifists, but immigrants were the ones most frequently attacked.
100% Americanism. 8The Search for a New World OrderAmerica on the
BattlefieldJohn J. Pershing & AEFBattle of Chateau-Thierry,
June 1918Meuse-Argonne Offensive, Sept. 1918Modern warfare led to
high casualty ratesTrench warfare, mustard gas, u-boats, tanks,
machine gunsDEATHS: British 1 mil, French 1.7 mil, Germany 2 mil,
Russia 1.7 mil, Austria 1.5 mil, USA 112,000
Wilsons Fourteen PointsPeace without victoryDetailed list of war
aims presented to Congress in January 1918Recognition of freedom of
the seasNo secret treatiesAn impartial adjustment of all colonial
claimsSelf-determination for the various nationalities within the
Austro-Hungarian EmpireLeague of Nations to keep the peace*Answer
to the new Bolshevik govt in USSR Lenin = a competitor in
leadership
Very idealistic presented to Congress11The Big FourThe Paris
Peace ConferenceIdealism competed w/spirit of national
aggrandizementUSSR and Germany not invitedBritain wont even discuss
free tradeTreaty of Versailles, 1919Germany punished: war guilt
clause, reparations, territorial lossesUSSR punished: lost more
territory than GermanySelf-determination largely ignoredItaly and
Japan did not gain all territory desiredLeague of Nations
established
Very idealistic presented to Congress13Take Your Medicine
The Ratification BattleProblems with the Treaty Many want a
return to isolationismViolation of Monroe Doctrine?Increased
partisanshipWilson & Midterm Election of 1818Republicans not
consulted on peace negotiations
Very idealistic presented to Congress15Sen. Henry Cabot Lodge
(R)
Chairman of the Foreign Relations CommitteePersonal dislike of
Wilson
16The Lodge ReservationsPopular sentiment favored
ratification
Lodge tried to slow the process
Amendments to the League Covenant
Wilsons IntractabilityBegan 8,000 mile speaking tour to rally
support for the treatyfollowed and harassed by the
Irreconcilables
Sept 25, 1919 Wilson collapsed
Wilson urged Democrats to vote against treaty w/Lodge
Reservations
Nov 19, 1919 Treaty of Versailles defeated in the Senate
American IsolationismIsolationists like Senator Lodge, refused
to allow the US to sign the Versailles Treaty.
Security treaty with France also rejected by the Senate.
July, 1921 Congress passed a resolution declaring WWI officially
over!
Sen. Henry Cabot Lodge, Sr. [R-MA]A Society in TurmoilPostwar
Problems in America
Industry and LaborPostwar Recession, 1919
Coal Miners Strike of 1919
Boston Police Strike of 1919
Steelworkers Strike of 1919Largest strike in American
historyDemanded 8-hr day & union recognition
Cartoon is about coal miners strike21If Capital & Labor Dont
Pull Together Chicago Tribune
Anti-Labor CartoonBoston Police Strike, 1919
Steelworkers Strike, 1919Coming Out of the Smoke New York
World
The Red Scare
Put Them Out & Keep Them Out Philadelphia InquirerThe Palmer
RaidsSeries of raids on alleged radical centers throughout the
country6,000 arrested
Anti-Immigrant HysteriaSacco and Vanzetti
Demands of African AmericansNew black attitudesIncreased
determination to fight for rightsEconomic expectations raised
In the South, lynchings increased in 1919
In the North, race riotsEast St. Louis, 1917Chicago, 1919Chicago
Race Riot, 191940 people killed, 500 injured
A Return to Normalcy
