Versailles Argumentative Essay Example For Students

Versailles Argumentative Essay VersaillesThe Treaty of Versailles was intendedto be a peace agreement between the Allies and the Germans. Versaillescreated political discontent and economic chaos in Germany. The Peace Treaty of Versailles represented the results of hostility andrevenge and opened the door for a dictator and World War II. November 11, 1918 marked the end of thefirst World War. Germany had surrendered and signed an armisticeagreement. The task of forming a peace agreement was now in the handsof the Allies. In December of 1918, the Allies met in Versaillesto start on the peace settlement. The main countries and theirrespective representatives were: The United States, Woodrow Wilson; GreatBritain, David Lloyd George; and France, George Clemenceau. At first,it had seemed the task of making peace would be easy. However,once the process started, the Allies found they had conflicting ideas andmotives surrounding the reparations and wording of the Treaty of Versailles. It seemed the Allies had now found themselves engaged in another battle. Woodrow Wilson (1856 1924), the twenty-eighthPresident of the United States (1913 1921). In August of1914, when World War I began, there was no question that the United Stateswould remain neutral. Wilson didnt want to enter the European Waror any other war for that matter. However, as the war continued,it became increasingly obvious that the United States could no longer siton the sidelines. German submarines had sunk American tankers andthe British liner, Lusitania, in May 1915, killing almost twelve hundredpeople, including 128 Americans. This convinced Wilson to enterWorld War I, on the allied side. As the war continued, Wilson outlinedhis peace program, which was centered around fourteen main points. They (fourteen points) were direct and simple: a demand that future agreementsbe open covenants of peace, openly arrived at; an insistence upon absolutefreedom of the seas; and, as the fourteenth point, the formation of a generalassociation of nations. The fourteen points gave people ahope of peace and lay the groundwork for the armistice that Germany ultimatelysigned in November 1918. Although the United States was instrumentalin ending the war, Wilson was still more interested in a peace withoutvictors than annexing German colonies or reparations (payment forwar damages). However, as the Allies began discussions of the peacetreaty, the European allies rejected Wilsons idealism and reasoning. It soon became increasingly obvious that the allies were seeking revengeand Germany was destined to be crippled economically and socially by itsenemies. David Lloyd George (1863 1945), whowas the Prime Minister of Great Britain (1916 1922), governed throughthe latter part of the war and the early post war years. Britainand Germany were, historically, always rivals. Before the war, forinstance, Germany challenged Britains famous powerful and unstoppablenavy by dramatically increasing the amount of money spent on their navy. In terms of losses, Britain absorbed thirty-six percent of the debt incurredby the allies and seventeen percent of the wars total casualties. After the war, Britain faced tough economic problems. Their exportswere at an all time low due to outdated factories, high tariffs, and competitionfrom other countries. As a direct result, Britain suffered from highunemployment, which of course, affected the well being of the country. Britain had its pride and nationalism stripped. The Treaty of Versailleswould provide an opportunity to seek revenge for their losses. Theywere also seeking annexation of German colonies in Africa. Georges Clemenceau (1841 1929) was thePremier of France (1906-1909) and (1917-1920). As Britain,France had a rivalry with Germany but the Frenchs ill feelings were evenmore intensive. Nationalism created tensions between France andGermany. The French bitterly resented their defeat in the Franco Prussian War and were eager to seek revenge. Moreover, they weredetermined to regain Alsace Lorraine. This gave the Frenchthe motivation of increasing their military strength and ultimately, destroyingtheir life-long enemies. During the war, Frances portion of thewar debt amounted to twenty percent. Their loss, in terms of warcasualties, was thirty-three percent. Most of the battles werefought on French soil. This resulted in the destruction of ten millionfarm acres, twenty thousand factories and six thousand public buildings. Decision Making Model EssayIn the end, the fascists party was favoured because they were extremenationalists, who denounced the Versailles Treaty and opposed the democraticgoals of the Weimar Republic. With the rise of fascism camethe rise of Hitler and his Nazi Party. Adolph Hitler, of the Nazi Party, preacheda racist brand of fascism. His party kept expanding, benefitingfrom growing unemployment, fear of communism, Hitlers self-certainty,and the difference of his political rivals. When Hitler becamechancellor in January 1933, he began rebuilding a promising future forGermany. He promised jobs and benefits to all classes of people. Almost all Germans felt compelled to listen and obey Hitlers extreme ideasof fascism because for some, he was their last hope. Hitler knewhow to win peoples obedience, through their fears and insecurities. Hitler successfully appealed to a Germany that was humiliated by defeatin World War I and the Treaty of Versailles of 1919. Hitlersucceeded and began to regain Germanys strength. Germany was toopowerful to be suppressed for long. Hitler broke many rulescontained in the Treaty of Versailles. For example, Hitler sent troopsinto the demilitarized Rhineland and the French did not respond. This and other scenarios gave Hitler the incentive to invade other countriesand ultimately, invade Poland and started World War II. With WWIIcame the dreadful horrors of the Holocaust. Hitler had ordered thedeaths of at least five million Jews. Not only did he orchestratethese mass murders, but he also influenced countless individuals to thinkand act in the same disgraceful manner. Hitler may have had sickand shameful ideas but he certainly knew how to be a manipulative leader. He played on the fears and insecurities of the people and used their weaknessesto win their loyalty. In conclusion, The Treaty of Versailleswas supposed to represent the peaceful ending to World War I, however,it became the prelude to another war. It was originally an effortto restore order and provide a peaceful conclusion to World War I. The ill feelings and economic upheaval that resulted provided the perfectclimate for Hitlers dominance, in post-war Germany. The contributors/participantsof Versailles had other motives behind the peace agreement other thana peace settlement. Their selfish actions resulted in, not only theeconomic hardship of Germany, but inflation and unemployment in all ofEurope. The severity of the reparations contained in this documentset the stage for history to repeat itself. Therefore, the veryway in which the Treaty of Versailles was forced on the German people storedup the material for the next round.