Treaty of Versailles: Ratification Battle

Summary

This lesson delves into the battle over the ratification of the Treaty of Versailles, focusing on the United States Senate's rejection of President Woodrow Wilson's vision for the League of Nations. Wilson's attempt to bring peace to the world after World War I faces opposition from different factions in the Senate: the internationalists, irreconcilables, and reservationists. Despite his efforts, including a nationwide campaign, Wilson's failure to compromise leads to the treaty's defeat, resulting in the U.S. not joining the League. This rejection contributes to America's shift towards isolationism in the 1920s.

Takeaways

• 😀 Wilson's 14 Points were intended to create lasting peace, with the League of Nations as a key part, aiming to prevent future wars.
• 😀 The Treaty of Versailles, while signed by Wilson, was not fully in line with his vision due to compromises made by the 'Big Four' at the Paris Peace Conference.
• 😀 The League of Nations became the main point of contention, with opponents fearing it would undermine U.S. sovereignty and congressional powers.
• 😀 The United States Senate plays a crucial role in ratifying treaties, and for the Treaty of Versailles to be approved, it needed a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate.
• 😀 There were three main factions in the Senate: internationalists (supporters of Wilson), irreconcilables (opposers of the treaty), and reservationists (who sought amendments).
• 😀 The League of Nations' Article 10, which called for mutual defense in case of attack, was a major sticking point, as it could potentially limit Congress’s power to declare war.
• 😀 Wilson argued that U.S. involvement in the League would give the nation a voice in global military decisions, while critics feared it would drag the U.S. into unnecessary conflicts.
• 😀 Political cartoons from the time reflected the heated debate, with Wilson depicted as struggling to navigate the rocky waters of ratification.
• 😀 In an attempt to win public support, Wilson launched a cross-country tour, despite health concerns, to promote the Treaty and League of Nations to the American people.
• 😀 Wilson suffered a stroke in October 1919, which left him incapacitated for months and weakened his ability to advocate for the treaty.
• 😀 Despite Wilson’s efforts, the Senate rejected the Treaty of Versailles twice, in November 1919 and again in March 1920, leading to the U.S. not joining the League of Nations.
• 😀 The failure to join the League of Nations weakened the organization's effectiveness, contributing to its inability to prevent the rise of fascism and the onset of World War II.

Q & A

What was the main purpose of President Wilson's 14 points at the Paris Peace Conference?

President Wilson's 14 points aimed to promote peace and prevent future wars, with one of the key proposals being the creation of the League of Nations, an international body to help prevent conflicts.

Why did the Big Four (Great Britain, France, and Italy) not fully support Wilson's 14 points?

The Big Four were focused on securing and expanding their own empires and creating a harsh peace with Germany, which led them to set aside Wilson's idealistic proposals, including the League of Nations.

What was Article 10 of the League of Nations charter, and why was it controversial in the U.S. Senate?

Article 10 stated that member nations of the League of Nations would support each other in the event of an attack, which meant that the League could potentially decide when the United States would go to war, infringing on Congress's power to declare war. This was a major point of contention in the Senate.

How did Wilson defend the idea of the League of Nations despite opposition in the U.S. Senate?

Wilson argued that the League of Nations would give the United States a voice in international peace decisions, using economic sanctions before resorting to military action, and preventing future wars by providing a platform for international cooperation.

Who were the three main groups in the Senate regarding the Treaty of Versailles, and what were their positions?

The three main groups were the internationalists, who supported the treaty and the League of Nations; the irreconcilables, who opposed the treaty entirely; and the reservationists, who supported the treaty but wanted amendments, particularly to Article 10.

What role did political cartoons play in the debate over the Treaty of Versailles?

Political cartoons highlighted the differing opinions about the treaty, often portraying the League of Nations as a threat to American sovereignty and independence, and expressing concerns over potential foreign entanglements.

What action did President Wilson take to gain support for the treaty, and what were the consequences?

President Wilson embarked on a 22-day cross-country journey to rally public support for the treaty, but he fell ill and suffered a stroke in October 1919, which incapacitated him for months and affected his ability to continue his campaign.

What were the main arguments for and against the United States joining the League of Nations?

Supporters of the League argued it was essential for maintaining global peace and preventing future wars, while opponents, especially in the Senate, feared it would entangle the U.S. in foreign conflicts and diminish Congress's power to declare war.

What was the outcome of the Senate's vote on the Treaty of Versailles?

The Senate rejected the Treaty of Versailles in November 1919, and despite a second vote in March 1920 on an amended version, the treaty was again defeated, leading the United States to not join the League of Nations.

How did the Senate's rejection of the Treaty of Versailles affect the future of the League of Nations?

The absence of the United States in the League of Nations weakened the organization's influence, especially during the rise of fascism in the 1930s, and contributed to its failure to prevent the outbreak of World War II.