Communism, National, Liberalism and the Outcome of World War I essays

Communism, National, Liberalism and the Outcome of World War I essays The Treaty of Versailles was supposed to be a peace agreement between the Allies and the Germans (Bailey, 1972). However, the treaty sparked political discontent and economic chaos in Germany, as it represented the results of hostility and revenge and opened the door for a dictatorship and On November 11, 1918, World War I ended. Germany surrendered and signed an armistice agreement, so the Allies were faced with the task of creating a peace agreement (Bailey, 1972). In December of 1918, the Allies met in Versailles. The main representatives at this meeting were Woodrow Wilson, representing the United States, David Lloyd George, representing Great Britain, David Lloyd George, and George Clemenceau, representing France. While the task of drafting a peace agreement seemed relatively simple, it soon became apparent that each country had conflicting ideas and motives For example, President Wilson did not enter the war until it was absolutely necessary, as he wanted the U.S. to remain neutral. During the war, Wilson outlined his peace program, which was based on fourteen main points, demanding that future agreements be open covenants of peace, openly arrived at; an insistence upon absolute freedom of the seas; and the formation of a general association of nations. The fourteen points were focused on peace and set the groundwork for the armistice that Germany ultimately signed in November 1918. While the U.S. was a major player in ending the war, Wilson was still more interested in a "peace without victors" than seizing German colonies or reparations. However, the European leaders did not agree with Wilson's ideas. It soon became clear that the European allies were seeking revenge and wanted to cripple Germany both economically and socially. Before the war, Germany challenged Britain's powerful navy by drastically increasing the funding for their navy. As a result, Britain absorbed thirty- ...