Versaille Treaty Dbq

After World War I, the world tried to construct some form of peace which would prevent another world war. President Wilson thought that World War I would be the “war to end all wars”. Wilson tried to make this possible through his Fourteen Points plan which would create and keep the peace throughout the world. Even though the Versailles Treaty included many of these points, Wilson failed at gaining the Senate’s support. Wilson pushed the Senate to ratify the Versailles Treaty, however, Wilson’s attempt was unsuccessful due to the strength and views of the opposition forces.

Many Americans opposed the Versailles Treaty due to its conditions. The Irreconcilables led by Senator William Borah completely opposed the treaty even if it was modified.
(Doc A) Americans who oppose the Versaille Treaty are afraid of losing sovereignty. Americans who opposed the Versaille Treaty are also fear if they join another alliance, the League of Nations, they will be drug into another war. For example, the Woman's Peace Party was divided on the issue of the League of Nations (Doc H). The women believed that the alliance the United States joins should be an “adequate international organization”. The Versaille Treaty is ineffective because it does not offer a solution for problems caused by imperialism as well as nationalism (Doc B). Not only is the Versaille Treaty ineffective, but it setting up the world for another world war. Keynes says, “The policy of reducing Germany to servitude for a generation, of degrading the
Wilson states, “[The founders of the Government] thought of America as the light of the world as created to lead the world” (Doc F). This is going against America’s strong tradition of isolationism, which is displayed through Washington’s Proclamation of Neutrality, the Monroe Doctrine, and Washington’s Farewell Address. Wilson was being stubborn because he was unwilling to compromise on the issue of the League of Nations (Doc C). Wilson wanted the Versailles Treaty his way, so when the treaty was amended, Wilson urged his supporters in the Senate to vote against it. Even though some liberals supported Wilson’s idea on the League of Nations, they also criticized his stubbornness. For example, W.E.B Du Bois criticized Wilson’s stubbornness by referring to it as his “idiotic way” (Doc G). Wilson attributed to the Senate’s defeat of the Versailles Treaty, but if he would have compromised, it is possible that the treaty could have been passed. However, Wilson’s stubbornness was not the main issue, the American people's fear of the United States would be drug into another war that they had little say so about. This is shown through the political cartoon “Interrupting the Ceremony” (Doc L). In the cartoon, the League of Nations is marrying the United States getting married to foreign entanglements. However, the Senate came to the rescue by interrupting