Example research essay topic: Treaty Of Versailles League Of Nations - 524 words

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The Treaty of Versailles The Treaty of Versailles came under development after World War I in January 1919 in Paris to punish Germany and to help prevent future war. The treaty looked like a good start but then by the end of 1919 it had fallen to dust. The great treaty that was to bring permanent peace fell apart at the seams. The three main powers at the conference were the United States, Great Britain, and France. Italy was also considered a big power but actually had little influence. Germany was forbidden to participate and Russia was in civil war at the time.

President Wilson represented the United States, Lloyd George Great Britain, and Georges Clemenceau France. Wilson s main concern was to form a League of Nations that would secure permanent peace between the states. In the end Wilson got his permanent international organization, but George and Clemenceau did not particularly support his idea. Lloyd, supported by his people, was concentrated on making the Germans pay for the war.

Clemenceau also shared Lloyd s view of making Germany pay for the war, but he wanted more also. Clemenceau was afraid for France s security. He believed that if Germany was not completely weakened France s forty million people would eventually fall under attack from Germany s sixty million. Clemenceau wanted a buffer state between France and Germany and complete demilitarization of Germany.

Wilson was completely against Clemenceau s request and was backed by Lloyd. By the time April came they were stuck on the issue of Germany. Eventually Clemenceau realized France s weakness and not wanting to lose it s allies came to compromise. It wouldn t receive its buffer state but in turn Wilson and Lloyd agreed to come to France s aid in the case of a German attack. When the treaty was signed it looked like it was a good start to international order. German colonies were given to France, Britain, and Japan.

Wilson helped to keep Germany from losing too much of it s territory in Europe. In Europe Alsace-Lorraine was returned to France. Parts of Germany that contained mainly poles were returned to Poland. Mostly German Danzig was place under the Polish tariff lines but was a self governed city under the League of Nations.

Also Germany had to limit it s army to 100, 000 men and could not build any military installations in the Rhineland where France wanted the buffer state. The worst of the punishment that the treaty put on Germany was that Germany was to be held responsible for the war and had to pay for all nonmilitary damages caused by the war. The amount that Germany had to pay was not set immediately because the amount could be set at a more reasonable level after the tempers had calmed. Germany at first refused to sign the treaty but was eventually forced to sign due to the fact that Germany was starving because the Allies had a naval blockade on Germany. The treaty was signed by the by the Germans in the Sun King s Hall of Mirrors at Versailles on June 18, 1919.

Research essay sample on Treaty Of Versailles League Of Nations