Post WWI

USH-5.5

I. PeaceA. Wilson is crucial at

Versailles Peace Conference

B. He brings Fourteen Points1. Plan to eliminate all wars

a) Limit naviesb) End secret treatiesc) Reduce armsd) New nationse) International peace

organization – League of Nations

I. PeaceC. To get the League of

Nations created, Wilson gives in to the Allies anger

1. War Guilt Clausea) Blamed Germany for all of

the death and destructionb) Meant to make Germans

feel badly and depressed

2. Reparations were placed on Germany

a) $33 billion in 1921b) $439,565,519,181.62 in

2013

I. PeaceD. Many new nations

created from German, Austrian and Russian land

1. Borders aren’t drawn well

II. Fight for League of NationsA. In US Constitution, foreign

policy is the executive branch

1. Senate ratifies all treaties

B. Wilson created the League of Nations but the Senate refused to ratify the treaty

1. Didn’t want to give up the ability to declare war

2. Didn’t want to join wars b/c the LoN said so

II. Fight for League of NationsC. Wilson (Dem) refused to

compromise with the Senate (Rep)

1. Wilson went on a cross country speaking tour

a) Wanted to get Democrats elected to Senate so they’d vote yes

D. Wilson had a stroke and still didn’t compromise

E. US never ratified the Treaty of Versailles

1. Made our own peace w/Ger.

III. The 1920sA. Election of 1920

1. Dem. Cox supported Wilson

2. Rep. Harding wanted a return to normalcy

3. People liked “make the world safe for democracy”

a) WWI violence changed their minds

4. Harding won and US became isolationist

III. The 1920sB. US became world’s

leading economic power1. Leading exports2. Creditor nation3. Financial capital4. Still involved in Latin Amer.

IV. Waiting for WWIIA. US never joined the

League of Nations1. Sent observers2. Participated in international

conferences

B. Helped Germany pay the war reparations w/loans

1. Dawes and Young Plans

C. Didn’t do anything as dictators rose in Italy and Germany

IV. Waiting for WWIID. Stock Market crash in

October 19291. US worried about domestic

problems

E. Congress passed Neutrality Acts

1. Meant to keep US out of future wars

2. Delays US involvement in WWII