[alias]

- Why do many people think the US shouldn't have signed the Treaty of Versaille?



- How was the treaty of versailles not perfect ?



- How did the treaty endanger the United States ?



- How did the treaty violate Wilson's 14 Points?

thanks in advance

[MrJohnDClare]

Try
this - http://www.johndclare.net/America2.htm and
this - http://www.johndclar...e_treaties1.htm
on the Treaty of Versailles.
All the answers are there, or in one of the links.

[MrJohnDClare]

I had an email today from a student who questioned whether the United States had actually rejected the Treaty of Versailles.

He wrote:

Quote

From what I understand the only thing America was really opposed to in the treaty was the idea for a League of Nations. They couldnt really oppose the treaty in any way, the only thing they had the power to do was reject the joining of the L.O.N. From the way it's worded it sounds like America rejected the whole treaty when really it was only that one point.

To be fair, he has a point.
The word 'rejected' is misleading.

• On 19 November, 1919, the Senate rejected the Treaty of Versailles. It voted three times on the Treaty: once on the Lodge reservations (defeated 55-39); once on ratification with the five Hitchcock reservations (defeated); and once on ratification with no reservations (defeated 53 votes to 38).
  
• Thus, to be more precise than 'rejected', the United States 'failed to ratify' the Treaty.
  
• In December 1919, the Senate agreed to reconsider its decision.
  
• In March 1920, however, the US Senate resolved again not to ratify the Treaty and not to join the League of Nations. Although the motion won the vote by 49 votes to 35, it failed by seven votes to get the two-thirds majority required to ratify the Treaty..
  
• In May 1920, therefore, the Senate had to end the war with Germany by joint resolution.
  
• And in 1921, therefore, the US signed a separate peace with Germany.

[boberz]

I believe the US didnt like Versailles for many other reasons. I remember reading one source (probably taken rashly out of context it was GCSE) where some American virtually predicted Hitler due to the loss of national identity and excessive reparations, there is some hindsight here, but it is easy to get blown away from the large League of Nations argument.

[Crazy-Fish]

boberz, on Dec 24 2008, 04:42 PM, said:

some American virtually predicted Hitler due to the loss of national identity

I know that Woodrow Wilson thought that the treaty was way too harsh and that it would leave Germany resentful and seeking revenge.