Top-Rated Free Essay
Preview

Why did "The Big Three" disagree each other so strongly during the treaty of Versailles?

Good Essays
455 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Why did "The Big Three" disagree each other so strongly during the treaty of Versailles?
The first dispute occurred in January 1919. A meeting was held at Versailles in France by the leaders of each country as to decide how to punish the Germans. The leaders who attended the meeting were Lloyd George, prime minister of England, Georges Clemenceau, prime minister of France, and Woodrow Wilson, president of America. They were also known as "The Big Three" However they disagreed with each other's ideas. They each wanted something, which benefits themselves.

Firstly, as the French were probably one of the worst victims of WWI. The prime minister of France wanted the German to be deeply punished. A request to have Germany demilitarized from the border of Germany to France and a restriction which Germans could only have 100000 men on their army. Also they wanted the Germany to pay all the reparations coursed during WWI. As well, he believed that Germany should be blamed for everything of what happened in WWI.

Secondly, the British Prime Minister Lloyd George had different opinions to Clemenceau's points. The main reason was because England got everything they wanted from the war. First the German military got destabilized. Second, the German naval threat was gone and the British colonies aren't threatened anymore. England's punishments for Britain aren't as harsh as the French. A restriction on German's army and pay a large amount for reparation was all they wanted. This was mainly due to the fact that Germany was one of their big trading partners. If Germany was bankrupt, England won't benefit at all. Lloyd George declared if the treaty listened to Clemenceau, Germans would revenge in 25 years.

Thirdly, the Americans had a total different idea. Woodrow Wilson believed that the factors, which caused WWI, weren't all because of Germany. France and England should also be blamed for the cause of the war. Wilson considered that the Europeans' diplomatic was too self-determined, they ignores the public's wishes or opinions. He also believed that the problems could only be solved if there is the relations between the countries were improved and a new self determined diplomatic government was being could be created through all the European countries.

In conclusions, the main courses of the conflict during the "The Big Three" meeting were: firstly, the diplomatic relationships between the three countries, where the Americans hated the British, England and France also hated each other, they were only uniting before cause had to face a tough enemy. Secondly, the French wanted Germans to pay for more than what they caused, where England just wanted Germany to pay for a certain amount since they got exactly what wanted. Thirdly America had a totally different opinion to both of the other countries in the treaty, which was probably the major cause of the conflict.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In conclusion, President Woodrow Wilson tried his best to stay neutral in the European conflicts. However, he was not able to do this because of the attacks on many American crafts which lead to the death of many citizens. Woodrow tried to take a peaceful approach to the war by making many attempts to come to an agreement with Germany. Germany refused and their relations deteriorated. This lead to U.S. involvement in World War I. Wilson justified his actions by saying that he was making the world safe for democracy. In the end the war caused a lot of bloodshed, and most impacting a lot of social, political, and economic…

    • 476 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    When war broke out about Europe on the 28th of July in 1914, Wilson made sure the nation new his stance. 21 days after war was declared he gave a message to Congress (Document A) stating that he favored neutrality as a strategy and everyman loving America would as well. He supported this because many citizens of the United States had heritage leading to a side of the war and America entering the war would splinter America. Wilson was correct in his assumption that most Americans did not want to enter the war at that time. The American people to that point had tried to stick with an isolationist’s attitude. Though the people wanted neutrality there were still some debates about how America was going about it. Document B displays a common thought during this time that while America claimed neutrality they actually favored the Allied powers. Munsterburg who wrote this letter was an extremely well educated man but he did not acknowledge in his letter the effect the blockade had America’s claimed neutrality.…

    • 1169 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    1991 Dbq Essay Example

    • 744 Words
    • 3 Pages

    War World One was a devastating global war that took place in Europe and was started by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb citizen of Austria-Hungary and member of the Young Bosnia. Austria-Hungary and Serbia’s relationship was already strained and the assassination was the last straw and they went to war. Shortly after this, due to alliances, all of Europe went to war. The U.S was neutral for some time but when Germany declared open submarine war fair the Woodrow Wilson, president of the U.S., had no choice but to go aid Great Britain, Russia, and France, the Triple Entente, against Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire, the Triple Alliance. The Triple Entente defeated the Triple Alliance in 1918 and the Treaty of Versailles was created. The first meeting for the discussion of the treaty was in January 1919, the four major men in the negotiation of the Treaty were Woodrow Wilson, Premier Georges Clemenceau of France, Prime Minister David Lloyd George of Great Britain, and Prime Minister Vittorio Orlando of Italy, who eventually left after an argument with Wilson. Wilson believed the treaty should be built upon the 14 points but soon realized he was the only one who agreed with this so agreed to just the fourteenth point, the League of Nations. The treaty was signed in June, including Wilson’s signature even though he did not have the Senate’s approval so the Senate revoked the treaty. “It was the strength of the opposition forces, both liberal and conservative, rather that the ineptitude and stubbornness of President Wilson that led to the Senate defeat of the Treaty of Versailles.” The validity of this statement is incorrect because due to Wilson’s League of Nations and his absolute stubbornness the Treaty of Versailles was defeated.…

    • 744 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    November 11, 1918 would mark Germany’s surrender as the kaiser fled to Holland, yet it was only the beginning of the quarrel between President Wilson and the American people over the Treaty of Versailles. Beforehand, Wilson had delivered the Fourteen Points Address to Congress January 8th declaring World War 1 as a moral cause and struggle for peace. Wilson mentioned fourteen points. Notably, the 14th point foreshadowed the concept of the League of Nations which would later be reintroduced as Wilson’s Ultimate goal to establish during the Paris Conference. Contrary to his goal, American liberal and conservative oppositions fought in regards to the Treaty of Versailles; created by the Big Four: US, Britain, France, and Italy, it would contain…

    • 1140 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    After the long and deadly First World War, of which the U.S. had been embroiled in for over a year, people were finally ready for their soldiers to come home. Some were even ready for peace. However, many Europeans had lost everything in the war and were not ready for peace. They were ready for revenge. The Treaty of Versailles reflected those sentiments. Internationally, the battle over the terms of the Treaty of Versailles was between those, such as Woodrow Wilson, who wanted a “peace without victory” and those who wanted to punish Germany for starting the war. At home in America, the battle over the treaty was quite different. It was a bitter dispute with no resolution, but many unintended consequences. The failure of the U.S. government to ratify the Treaty of Versailles and join the League of Nations resulted in American isolationism and a lack of oversight in Germany, both of which were contributing factors to the beginning of the Second World War.…

    • 1583 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The United States had entered World War I against many wishes of the American public, which made the ratification for the peace agreement an even more difficult task. Woodrow Wilson justified American involvement by claiming that an Ally victory would ensure a new world order. The war would be used as an instrument to "make the world safe for democracy". However, many Americans, government officials, and even the Allies did not agree with the progressive ideals that would be enforced to attain the peace that Wilson had desired and promised. This was made evident when Wilson's negotiations for the peace treaty were criticized and rejected by the leaders of the other Allied nations and isolationists. Even when Wilson acknowledged objections against his proposals, he refused to accept any compromises or different versions of the treaty. Therefore, both the inflexibility of Wilson and strength of the opposition forces led to the defeat of the Treaty of Versailles.…

    • 1033 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Dbq Treaty Of Versailles

    • 405 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In 1919, President Wilson joined delegates of Italy, France, England, and Japan in the Palace of Versailles to negotiate peace. When the conference was adjourned, the Treaty of Versailles had been created. However, the treaty was killed by Congress. It was not the strength of the opposing forces' argument, but rather the incompetence, rigidity, and obstinacy of President Wilson that lead to the Senate defeat of the Treaty of Versailles.…

    • 405 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Bismark Attack Paper

    • 625 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Prime Minister then decided to provoke France into a war. He wanted to make sure no one would try and intervene in German affairs and bring some of the smaller German states out of the nation as a whole. He then adds insult to injury by suggesting a…

    • 625 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The treaty of Versailles is believed by historians to have angered the Germans but also left the big three unsatisfied at the outcome of the pact. Germany felt exceedingly cheated by the treaty. The Germans in the treaty had been blamed entirely for the war and had to pay compensation in the sum of 6, 600million pounds as well as limit there army to no more then 100,000 men to name a few . Through the treaty Germany had to lose much of its territory to its neighboring countries - as well as the demilitarization of the Rhineland to protect France.…

    • 893 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    One way they compared to each other is Wilson wanted peace because the U.S. Entered the war late so there wasn't as many deaths. The war was on foreign soil so there was no damage done to the U.S. either. Lloyd the prime minister of Britain wanted to make Germany pay,Clemenceau of France wanted to weaken Germany so it could never threaten France Wilson of the U.S. wanted "peace without victory" with his fourteen points. All three men wanted to stop a war ever happening again, but they did not agree about how to do this. They wanted different things from the peace, and they did not get on well.…

    • 247 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Treaty Of Versailles Dbq

    • 1081 Words
    • 5 Pages

    “This is the Greatest Moment in history”.The Treaty of Versailles was the peace settlement signed after World War One had ended in 1918 and in the shadow of the Russian Revolution and other events in Russia. The treaty was signed at the vast Versailles Palace near Paris – hence its title – between Germany and the Allies. The three most important politicians there were David Lloyd George, Georges Clemenceau and Woodrow Wilson.The Versailles Palace was considered the most appropriate venue simply because of its size – many hundreds of people were involved in the process and the final signing ceremony in the Hall of Mirrors could accommodate hundreds of dignitaries. Many wanted Germany, now led by Friedrich Ebert, smashed; others, like Lloyd George,…

    • 1081 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The end of Woodrow Wilson’s first term was met with great approval by the American people for avoiding war in Europe. His first term demonstrated a fair and balanced foreign policy. By the end of his term, Wilson knew in the back of his head, that the United States would not be able to evade war in Europe. Several attempts were made by the United States to make peace with foreign nations who were causing problems. As the turbulence developed in Europe, Wilson began making plans to prepare America for war. Although steps during Woodrow Wilson’s presidency could have been made to maintain neutrality, Wilson was more or less forced into the Great War in 1917 by Germany being oblivious and indifferent towards his warnings.…

    • 879 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    It was difficult to make a peace settlement that would please all the Allies because all of them had very different wishes and views on what should happen next. France and Britain disagreed with most of Woodrow Wilson’s views, as he was too idealist and believed in self-determination, the idea that nations should rule themselves rather than by others, whereas the other allies believed in imperialism, the opposite of self-determination. David Lloyd George did not want the treaty to be too harsh, fearing German revenge, and desired to keep the trade with Germany. Georges Clemenceau’s main aim was to cripple Germany so hard that it would never dare to try declaring a war in Europe again. Woodrow Wilson was the most idealist out of all the allies.…

    • 210 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Things for American soldiers on the European front vs. things for people on the home front were very different. Eventually President Wilson came up with a plan for everlasting peace but they did not all go through the Versailles Treaty. Four things contributed in causing world war I and one of them is Imperialism, the competition for colonial lands in Africa and elsewhere. This led to conflict among…

    • 946 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Treaty of Versailles

    • 787 Words
    • 4 Pages

    A big part of why Wilson accounted for the majority of the blame in the failure of the Treaty of Versailles was that he refused to compromise on any parts of the Treaty, even if they weren't his own ideas. He himself said that he would rather fail in a successful plan than succeed in a failed plan; and in Wilson's eyes, the Treaty of Versailles as he once had it was a successful plan, but Congress's insistence on changing or not accepting the Treaty is a greatly failed plan. Woodrow Wilson accepted the blame for the failure of the Treaty of Versailles, saying,"I told you before you went across the seas that this was a war against wars, and I did my best to fulfill the promise, but I am obliged to come to you in mortification and shame and say I have not been able to fulfill the promise. You are betrayed. You have fought for something that you did not get," (Document C).…

    • 787 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays