The Treaty of Versailles
History: Cambridge International GCSE The Twentieth Century (Option B), topic 1.1.1
The Paris Peace Conference
27 countries met at the Palace of Versailles (France) in 1919. They were made up of the victorious allies.
The end of the war
- By spring 1918 the leaders of Germany’s army realised it was no longer possible to win the war.
- Germany was suffering from major food shortages.
- As a result, the military told the government to stop.
- Having lost support of the Germany army, Kaiser Wilhelm stepped down on 9 November 1918.
The Palace of Versailles
- 32 countries met at the Palace of Versailles (France) in 1919.
- They were made up of the victorious allies.
- Britain, France, and the USA
- Germany was not present at this conference because they were not invited.
- They met to decide how to deal with the losing countries.
The Conference
- One of their aims was to prevent another war from happening again.
- Out of all of the countries that attended, there were 3 leaders who were the most powerful and influential.
- These were the leaders of France, America and Great Britain.
- They were known as the ‘Big Three’.
- The conference lasted 12 months.
The Treaty of Versailles (TOV)
After negotiations at the Palace of Versailles, the Treaty of Versailles was drawn up by the Allies.
The Treaty
- After negotiations at the Palace of Versailles, the Treaty of Versailles was drawn up by the Allies.
- The Treaty aimed at weakening Germany financially, economically and socially so that another war launched by Germany would seem impossible.
Terms
- The Germans were given no time to negotiate. They had to accept the terms as set out in the Treaty.
- The Germans were told they had to sign the treaty or the allies would resume the war.
- Which would almost certainly result in Germany being invaded and taken over by the allies.
Test yourself on The Treaty of Versailles
Which country was not present at the Paris Peace Conference?
How long did the Paris Peace Conference last?
Which countries were known as the ‘Big Three’?
What is the name of the treaty that was signed by Germany and the Allies after World War I?